Course Orientation

1. A1-04027 Trade Union Training on Collective Bargaining for Union Leaders (Francophone and Anglophone Africa) 18 to 29 July 2011 Course Orientation

2. Main focus of the training course To improve our understanding about the impact of economic globalization on the world of work and collectively develop an appropriate trade union response within the framework of the GJP to tackle the challenges. To deepen our knowledge about issues of organising, social dialogue, negotiations and collective bargaining. To enhance our understanding about the ILO principles and standards for promoting freedom of association, social dialogue, collective bargaining and decent work for all.

3. The World of Work today … Is under pressure due to: • Free market economy governed by misguided neo-liberal policies plunged the world into a global financial and economic crisis in 2008; • Privatization and deregulation, which have resulted into a phenomenal increase in informalization of the world economy and erosion of the rights of workers and their trade unions; • Changing nature of employment relationships – part-time, casualization, temporary and seasonal work have led to precarious working condition and increased vulnerability. • What else has changed in Africa since 1980s? • How have trade unions been responding to these?

4. Challenges before Africa • Organsing workers within the EPZs and Informal Economy. • Meeting employment & social protection needs of the growing workforce is a major challenge. • How to ensure decent work for the large army of working men and women trapped in precarious employment – more than 75% of the workforce of Sub-Saharan Africa is in the informal economy. • How to tackle unemployment, underemployment and vulnerability – less than 20% of the working people have access to social security protection.

5. Stable and healthy industrial relations require… Opportunities for women and men to obtain productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. A development strategy that acknowledges the central role of work in people’s lives. Respecting, promoting and realising the fundamental principles and rights at work. Not only collective bargaining BUT also participatory rights and the right to information!

6. Stable and healthy industrial relations require… • Promoting employment by creating a sustainable institutional and sound economic environment. • Societies can achieve their goals of economic development, good living standards and social progress. • Developing and enhancing measures of social protection, social security and labour protection that are sustainable and adaptable to national circumstances.

7. Stable and healthy industrial relations require… • Minimum wages that keep pace with cost of living. • Organising workers within the EPZs and informal economy – But HOW? • Strong, representative, independent workers’ and employers’ organisations. • Strengthened trade unions’ organisational structures & capacities for representing workers interests. • Promoting social dialogue: tripartism and bipartism.

8. Objectives Contribute to the knowledge of bargaining strategies and negotiation skills for effective collective bargaining Develop understanding on how ILO policies & standards can help promote democratic labour relations systems so as to promote decent work for all workers;

9. Key Issues to be discussed Right to Organise & Collective Bargaining in the 21st Century: overview of ACTRAV’s international symposium on CB (2009). Multi National Enterprises and Collective Bargaining The changing world of work and its implications for collective bargaining Principles of social dialogue: tripartism and bipartism. Review of country and regional situation on CB in Africa

10. Key Issues to be discussed Principles of collective bargaining: basic concepts and modalities. Negotiating skills and techniques for effective collective bargaining. Global wage trends and the role of collective bargaining in shaping wage policies. Challenges and opportunities of collective bargaining and wages.

11. Key Issues to be discussed • Questions and Answers on International Instruments and procedures on collective bargaining. • Group work and plenary discussion on comparing national legislative framework on collective bargaining. • Productivity improvement and negotiating productivity linked agreements. • Company balance sheet analysis: strategy for effective negotiation. • Tackling discrimination and gender inequality in the world of work: mainstreaming gender through collective bargaining.

12. Key Issues to be discussed • Extension of collective bargaining to atypical workers and in the informal economy. • Social protection – a strategy for inclusive development. • Economic effects on collective bargaining • Role of collective bargaining in the context of the crisis.

13. Key Issues to be discussed • International framework agreement & role of national level trade unions. • Giving effect to the Global Jobs Pact implementation in Africa. • Employment relationship, labour laws & ILO Recommendation No 198. • Relevance of FPRW in time of Globalisation, Crisis and Economic and Social Recovery • Developing Action Plans • Workshop Conclusions & Recommendations

14. Evaluation Mid course evaluation End of the Course Evaluation Feedback is welcome on daily-basis

15. Any Questions?