ELA and CCOTU on Trade Union Culture and Management

A two-day seminar organized by the Central Confederation of Trade Unions in Sierra Leone (CCOTU) in collaboration with the Confederation of Trade Unions in Spain (ELA) on the theme, “Trade Union Culture and Management”, has commenced at the Sierra Leone Library Board in Freetown.
ELA is the umbrella organization of Trade Unions in Spain, an organization that has been very interested in protecting the rights and welfare of workers.
In Sierra Leone, CCOTU has shared similar dreams and aspirations by ensuring an effective Trade Union practice which would deliver workers from the bondage of socio-economic oppression by employers, with shared commitment of freedom of its members at national level.
The chairman of the occasion, Dr. Abubakarr Kargbo, a seasoned trade unionist and also lecturer at the Njala University, in his opening remarks, noted that the seminar was apt, as it was meant to build the capacity of trade union management.
He said that the worker is the most important factor in the chain of production. Without labor, there will be no production and without production there would be no development, he said.
Dr Kargbo noted that while other countries are forging ahead in protecting the rights of workers, Sierra Leone is still lagging behind. He urged trade union activists to imbibe the culture of democracy, tolerance, accountability and transparency, adding that periodic free and fair election is a prerequisite.
Dr. Kargbo also advised participants to develop structures to fit into changing conditions as we face the challenges of globalization.
The Secretary General at CCOTU, Ansu Massaquoi, pointed out that the objective of the seminar is to strengthen and educate workers to enable them to come up with a resolution which would make them be proud of their occupation. He stressed that the concern of workers is to diversify trade union perspectives and as such called on all to actively participate in the two-day deliberation.
Presentations on the definition, roles and means of actions of trade unions were made by Martin Bangura, whilst the president of CCOTU, Mr. Malcolm Jones, spoke on the techniques for running a meeting.