By Sam Ssali Kiggundu – Senior Trade Union Instructor.
International Trade Unions Organization have a lot of functions that they carry out among their affiliates. These include;-
Promotion of International Trade Union solidarity.
Coordination of affiliates’ activities.
Dissemination of vital information to the affiliates.
Supporting education training programs to the affiliates.
Giving material and technical support to the affiliates.
The biggest support however is to canvas for solidarity support in case of any violation of workers’ rights within its affiliates.
A case in point was the solidarity the global unions gave to the Uganda Textiles, Garments Leather and allied workers Union (UTGLAWU) when the AGOA authorities refused to recognize the Union. After the pressure mounted by the Global Unions, and ILO, the workers were allowed to join the Union.
Trade Unions are affiliated to these bodies and they greatly benefit through their services. In Uganda, the following Unions are affiliated as follows:-
Groupings
• PSI – (Public Service International) based in Ferny Voltaire – France.
– Uganda Medical Workers’ Union (UMWU)
– National Union of Education Institutions (NUEI)
– National Union of Local Government Workers Union (NULGWU)
– Uganda Government Allied Workers Union (UGAWU)
– Uganda Public Employees Union (UPEU)
– Uganda Electricity and Allied Workers Union (UEAWU)
– Uganda Parastatal Statutory Authority and Judiciary Workers Union (UPSAJWU)
– Uganda Farm and Agro-based Workers Union (UFABWU)
– University Professional and Academic Staff Union (UPASU)
– National Union of Government Workers Union (NAGWU)
– Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union (UNMU)
•IUF – (International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurants, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers Association) based in Geneva – Switzerland.
– Uganda Hotels, Food, Tourism, Supermarket and Allied Workers Union (UHFTSAWU)
– National Union of Co-operative Movement Workers (NUCMW)
– Uganda Beverages Tobacco and Allied Workers Union (UBTAWU)
– Uganda Bottling Distillery, Barkers and Allied Workers Union (UBDBAWU)
– Uganda Fisheries Allied Workers Union (UFAWU)
– National Union of Plantation and Agriculture Workers (NUPAU)
– Uganda Hospitality, Leisure and Allied Workers Union (UHLAAWU)
• ITF – (International Transport Workers) based in London UK
– UGANDA Railways Workers Union (URWU)
– Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union (ATGWU)
– National Union of Drivers, Cyclists and Allied Workers Union.
• IMF – (International Metal Workers Federation) based in Geneva – Switzerland.
– Uganda Mines Metal and Allied Workers Union (UMMAWU)
– Uganda Building, Construction, Civil Engineering, Cement and Allied Workers Union (UBCCECAWU)
– National Union of Infrastructural Civil Workers and Word Workers (NUICWU)
• International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Federation (ITGLAWU)
– Uganda Textile, Garment, Leather and Allied Workers Union (UTGLAWU)
• IFJ – (International Federation of Journalists) based in Brussels – Belgium.
– Uganda Journalists Union (UJU)
Uganda Media Union (UMU)
• ICEM – International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and Genral Workers Union (ICEM) Based in Brussels – Belgium.
– Uganda Chemical, Petroleum and Allied Workers Union.
• Education International based in Brussels – Belgium
– Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU)
– Uganda Private Teachers Union (UPTU)
– Uganda Liberal Teachers Union (ULTU)
• BWI – Building and Wood Workers International based in Geneva – Switzerland
– Uganda Building, Construction, Civil Engineering, Cement and Allied Workers Union (UBCCECAWU)■
