Central Organization of Trade Unions, (COTU-Kenya), Secretary General Francis Atwoli was re-elected as the President of the Organization of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) on November 18.
The members voted unanimously for Atwoli during the 12th Congress of OATUU in Algiers, Algeria because of his vast experience and deep commitment to advancing the rights and interests of workers across the African continent.
According to a statement signed by the deputy Secretary General Benson Okwaro, Atwoli is set to serve his third term in the leadership position.
“The Central Organization of Trade Unions (Kenya), COTU (K), Secretary General, Dr. Francis Atwoli, was, this morning, unanimously re-elected to serve his third term as the President of the Organization of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) during the ongoing 12th Congress of OATUU that is taking place in Algiers, Algeria,” read the statement in part.
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Furthermore, the re-election reflected the trust and confidence placed in Atwoli by fellow African trade union leaders within the OATUU community.
Francis Atwoli Speech
In his acceptance speech, Atwoli expressed gratitude for the support received from fellow trade unionists and pledged to work tirelessly to strengthen the collective voice of African workers on the international stage.
Also, he emphasized the importance of solidarity among trade union organizations from all the 54 African Countries in addressing common challenges and promoting fair labour practices across the continent.
Atwoli led trade unionists from the continent in securing a vote in favour of seeking a resolution from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Geneva.
This was done after a long-standing dispute between workers’ and employers’ representatives on the right to strike.
Furthermore, as President of OATUU, Atwoli is expected to address pressing issues facing workers in Africa, including job security, social protection, and the promotion of decent work.
This renewed mandate is expected to bring about positive changes that will resonate across the entire African labour landscape.
Further, COTU (K) extended its best wishes to Atwoli as he continues to serve workers on the continent and globally.
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“The organization remains confident that his leadership will contribute to the advancement of the trade union movement in Africa and the improvement of working conditions for millions of African workers,” the statement read in part.
About OATUU
The Organization of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) was founded in 1973 has its headquarters in Accra Ghana.
Notably, OATUU is the only African trade union organization that represents all the trade union interests in Africa.
It has 60 affiliates across the 54 African countries, with a total membership of about 25 million people.
