Trade Unions in Africa: Weak but feared

Historically, African labour unions, at first were an importing driving force of the anti-colonial liberation struggle, before they transformed into transmission belts of ruling parties and governments after independence. In exchange for giving up fundamental freedoms they received a secured status, secure jobs for their members and privileges for their leaders. A rude awakening was caused by the debt crisis in the eighties and the ensuing economic liberalization, which led to massive job losses in the formal economy and a strong decline in union membership. To make matters worse, many governments started to reform their labour laws to the disadvantage of workers. On the other hand, the concomitant political liberalisation created the political space for breaking the close and dependent relationship with government, and provided for the emergence of new, independent trade unions. In a number of countries, trade unions played a decisive in the removal of autocratic regimes.