 Cosatu led the fight in South Africa's anti apartheid struggle |
Swaziland's trade unions last week organised a two-day general strike to press for democratic reforms but it fizzled out half-way through. In Malawi, judges went on a go-slow, demanding a new fleet of four-wheel-drive vehicles. They only resumed normal activities after they were promised new cars - albeit not the ones they wanted. The powerful Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has been at the forefront of strikes especially over the prices of fuel. In 2004 alone, the NLC organised three nationwide general strikes and managed to get the government to lower fuel prices - but not by as much as they had demanded. How SA's unions fell out with the ANC Across Africa, teachers, nurses, doctors, students, transport workers and many other groups often take industrial action for a variety of reasons. In both Zambia and Zimbabwe, trade unions have formed political parties to fight for workers' rights. And South Africa's Cosatu was involved in the struggle against apartheid. BBC Africa Live asks: Do strikes work? What would make you go on strike? Would you risk your life or your job to go on strike? Should this industrial tool be used for political purposes? This debate broadcast on Wednesday 2 February, is now closed. You can read a selection of your emails below.
Strikes do work. It's worth risking your life and your work. You may not be the one to reap the gains, but your children or grand children will. The blood of a good citizen should be used to plant the tree of democratic norms and a better life. These actions should also be used as tools for political change. For instance, if South Africa had been passive about apartheid, the inhuman era would have persisted to date. The best way for a strike to work is for the masses to be aware, conscious and to face the situation squarely without fear or favour.
Hastings Oluwasola, Netherlands The World Bank, the UK Department for International Development and others claim to want a world without poverty. This will need redistribution from the rich to the poor. The rich will not give up their power, wealth and income without pressure. Trade unions are the only way in which this pressure can be brought to bare, by the only ones that care, the poor. We should celebrate strikes as the gateway to an equitable world free of poverty.
Drew Povey, Leicester, UK Rarely do strikes achieve anything. In Kenya, for example, workers' strikes just result in sacking; political demonstrations end up in police beating up people. The list of fruitless strikes is endless. African leaders are not sensitive to strikes rather this only gives them an opportunity to show people how strong they are.
Hankie Uluko, Kenya Yes, indeed, strikes do work. For people denied other means of expressing a collective opinion on political or economic issues, strikes remain the weapon of last resort against a repressive and insensitive government. Otherwise, how would our "know all" President have conceded that petroleum prices, including kerosene, which majority of Nigerians use for their cooking, is too expensive. And should we be afraid to pay the price for striking? Well, who is down fears no fall!
Abdulai Musa, Lagos, Nigeria Strikes and demonstrations seem to be the language most African governments understand. In Ghana for instance University lecturers always go on strike at very sensitive moments of the semester which are the registration and examination periods.
kablan Adjei, Ghanain studying in France Do strikes work? The answer is yes and no. It depends on who has called for the strike and how powerful the organisation is. In Malawi for example, the judges, strike was very effective because they are judges. Lawyers in the Ministry of Justice threatened to strike last month and the government quickly dealt with their grievances. On the other hand, we have a civil servants trade union which remains very toothless. The majority of its members are low class civil servants.
Pacharo Kayira, Lilongwe, Malawi. In Nigeria, last December, doctors went on strike for non-payment or no increment in their salaries. This is what I call heartless behaviour. Who should have attended to emergencies? The judges in Malawi did well by going to strike. The government forced them to do so. I'm a proud supporter of strikes if they are truly used to fight for the less privileged.
Bright Nnanna, Abuja, Nigeria. In Nigeria, many local people protested against high oil prices. However, it didn't work in a positive way. Ironically, it accelerated the oil prices.
M.N, Japan At the time when Kenya was a one party state, student strikes were the only voice of opposition. I am proud of my participation and have no regrets. Had we not kept the issues of the day on the front burner, we would never have achieved anything. It is is this spirit of resistance that later made the opposition bold enough to take on the government. My only issue is the apathy with which demands for justice and fairness are treated. Too many of us are selfish and blame those agitating for change instead of blaming our governments that are the root cause of the problems. Long live the struggle, Africa is not yet Uhuru.
Stephen Gitau, Kenyan, USA It's good to start liberating yourself first by striking.
Thabor D. Ding, Sudanese/USA In my country Kenya, most civil servants go without salaries not because there's no money but due to corruption among the top officials. Strikes are used as a tool for the oppressed and the only language understood by the corrupt. You don't care about losing your non paying job or your desperate life. A strike is a do or die game. If you lose the fight, you multiply your problems. Its the best tool to be used for political purposes.
Kisanya Vincent, Nairobi, Kenya  |  For the strike to attain its goal and change the situation for the better, the organizers have to be united, firm, have realistic demands and not have a political agenda. |
With our selfish and corrupt so call leaders who don't care about the welfare of their people, going on strike is one of the peaceful and democratic ways of bringing them back to their senses. But for the strike to attain its goal and change the situation for the better, the organizers have to be united, firm, have realistic demands and not have a political agenda. Unfortunately in a country like Zimbabwe where every such action is directly linked to the opposition and colonialism, the government takes draconian measures that force the strikers to go back to work without seeing their demands being met as the government always threatens to fire them and not to pay them their salary for that month.
Kapinga Ntumba, Harare, Zimbabwe The recent national strike in Swaziland for example was well justified and should bring a clear message to the rest of the world that all is not well in that kingdom.
Mphumuzi Sukati, Reading (UK) from Swaziland In my view strikes in Africa achieve nothing. They only add to the hardships of the poor people who are more willing than the rich to join strikes. I have seen strikes which only achieve one thing and that is bringing poor ordinary people's life to a halt. In Nigeria the so called NLC embarked on many strikes to push the government to lower the high prices of petroleum products, the results of these strikes today is that petrol is being sold at a crazy rate of 47 Naira a litre, diesel is sold for a whooping N72 a litre and kerosene, well forget about it, as you just can't get it. I think the idea of strikes only achieve their objectives in democratic society where a voice of an ordinary citizen is heard and taken very seriously. We in Africa have a very long way to go for that day!
Abdulqadir Abdulhameed, Lagos, Nigeria In my experience the losses quite out weighs the benefits especially if it involves voilence! It is a slow killer to the overrall economy of Africa especially in a country where the population are mainly self employed. Whatever gains that the labour union make at one end is taken over through the back door by the government.Truth be told, there is no strike that does not have serious consequences.The strike by primary school teachers during the era of former president Ibrahim Babangida has destroyed the lives of a generation of the students!
Badmus Abdulwaheed, Leuven,Belgium Major reforms of the world have been brought about by skrikes. Nation-wide skrikes in many parts of Africa and the world have helped bring down dictators.
Hilary A, Stockholm, Sweden,(Cameroonian) In Swaziland in particular, what other choice is there for political action? With the ruling powers seemingly committed to maintaining the 30 year ban of political parties for as long as they can, if the labour movement doesn't take the lead on political issues, many people will continue to feel unrepresented. The strike this week may not have done a lot, and perhaps the unions need to reconsider their strategy, but I applaud them for taking some leadership on the issue and trying something.
Mandlawenkhosi Zangazanga, Toronto, | People are suffering and the unions fill the gap and provide a voice for the weary |
In a society of unscrupulous investors and strict IMF reform rules, somebody has to take a stand for the workers. In Zambia where a wage freeze was imposed as per certain IMF 'recommendations' it seems as though the government is no longer the government of the people. Government workers can go for months without salaries. The plight of teachers, doctors, nurses and all such essential staff is so sad. Then you have the so-called investors, whose lust for profit often happens at the expense of their workers. People are suffering and the unions fill the gap and provide a voice for the weary. Workers and their families need to eat too.
Chibale, Zambia The question of risking one's life just to advocate your rights should not arise in the first place, if not for the dictatorial proclivities of the majority of the governments in Africa. This should be seen as a constructive means of checks and balances in governance instead of personailizng these issues of politics.
Eseme Ojaruega, Dominican Republic There is nothing wrong with striking. It is usually the last straw after all negotiations have failed to yield a positive result. People go on strike for various reasons depending on the kind of reform they are seeking. Going on strike could be risky but again sacrifices have to be made. No pain, No gain. If a strike is not well coordinated, it could become chaotic thereby leading to loss of lives, injuries and looting of properties. If a strike is politicised, it would not be meaningful anymore and the purpose will be defeated. The purpose of strike is to force the government to compromise or change its policies as it affects the masses. Striking is a good tool if used in the right direction.
Omorodion Osula, Benin City, Nigeria. Yes, strikes work and it is a signal and warning to governments, individuals or organizations that try to deny your rights. I was among 88 students who went on strike in 1992 which resulted to my dismissal from Bonga Secondary School in Ethiopia. I was worried because it was the first time I had ever been part of a strike. We were protesting the for low allowances that were paid to us by the agency which worked for southern Sudanese refugee students in Ethiopia. I've always been proud of myself for thaking that stand because I succeeded.
Peter Tuach, Minnesota, USA | Hungry people who would want to conserve whatever little they have eaten, will not go on "unwarranted" street marches and protests |
When you have politictians and public officers who feel they are not accountable to the masses, people are forced to go to the streets as a last resort to get their voices heard. Hungry people who would want to conserve whatever little they have eaten, will not go on "unwarranted" street marches and protests. However, most often than not polictians would try to manupulate, delay negotiations and split the ranks of the masses and turn round to blame them. People have seen strikes as the only way to get their voice heard
John Mensah, UK As a child in the firestone plantation in Liberia, the outcome of almost all of the industrial action that I witnessed was a split between the leaders of the aggrieved workers and the work force. Though the issues remain, as soon as meetings becomes part of the industrial action, the expected result or outcome is no longer the same as the initial or intended reason why the action was taken in the first place. In my judgment, industrial action or strikes do not work for the general good of the people who always stage them. I have come to see them as a tool for those with political or other interest in the state, community, or group.
E. Julu Swen, Monrovia, Liberia
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