FEATURE : I want to make workers’ union great again, claims Oluoch

Tanzania Teachers Union deputy secretary general Ezekiel Oluoch checks files in his office recently. PHOTO | SALIM SHA

What you need to know:

  • Tanzania Teachers Union’s (TTU) deputy secretary general Ezekiel Oluoch is one of those who have declared his intension to contest for the position of Tucta secretary general. In the interview with The Citizen on Sunday reporter Louis Kolumbia, Mr Oluoch explains reasons for the decision and strategies to move Tucta forward. Excerpts…

Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (Tucta) is slated to elect its top leaders to serve the outfit in the next five years. A number of aspirants have come forth expressing their desire to contest for various posts, thus increasing temperature within the workers congress.

Tanzania Teachers Union’s (TTU) deputy secretary general Ezekiel Oluoch is one of those who have declared his intension to contest for the position of Tucta secretary general. In the interview with The Citizen on Sunday reporter Louis Kolumbia, Mr Oluoch explains reasons for the decision and strategies to move Tucta forward. Excerpts…

Question: The Citizen has information that you want to contest for the position of Tucta secretary general during the next election, is this true?

Answer: Yes, I declared my intention during TTU’s central committee meeting held from August 1-5.

But, constitution demands that TTU national council, which is slated to meet on Wednesday and Thursday, must debate and approve the move. Hopefully, the council will bless my decision and therefore participate in this year’s Tucta elections.

Q: What will happen to your present position at TTU?

A: According to TTU constitution, once I’m elected Tucta secretary general, I will automatically cease to be TTU deputy secretary general. Tucta constitution does not allow individuals from holding more than one leadership except for the president.

This is among constitution changes we will need to consider in future, because other countries like South Africa and Kenya have constitutions that allow leaders to hold more than one leadership position. Leaders would serve with confidence if they are supported by sectorial unions where they are also leaders. Otherwise, I will reclaim my position if I don’t emerge victorious.

Q: Why have you decided to run for the Tucta post?

A: It is because I believe I have the voice to speak on behalf of the voiceless. Nowadays, nobody defends the oppressed workers from denial of payments and violation of labour laws. Workers are also underpaid and that Tucta, which is supposed to defend workers welfare, has not been seen doing that effectively. It has turned blind and put cotton in its ears. Efforts to defend workers’ welfare have gone down.

This is clear indication that the outgoing secretary general, Mr Nicholaus Mgaya, is tired. When human turn 60, we get tired of carrying out tough responsibilities. So, I cannot blame Mr Mgaya. He has done a lot.

Q: Other than age concerns, why do you believe outgoing secretary general is tired?

A: It could be due to his politicla ambitions. You will recall that in the 2015 General Election, he vied for Muheza Constituency seat through Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

Since that day he compromised himself after showing his affiliation to a political party. He lost credibility to criticise and challenge the government. It was impossible for him to challenge the government formed by the very party that was expected to endorse his candidature.

Unknowingly, he committed a big mistake because his decision had left workers lonely and like lambs without a shepherd. Tucta needs to be reformed now. Since, I have no political ambitions, I have evaluated myself and consider to be the right candidate for the position.

The only weapon I have is building a strong partnership and solidarity among Tanzanian workers. After securing support of 10 out of 14 trade unions which form Tucta, I’m confident that I am going to realise this dreams.

Q: Do, you mean former secretary general’s political ambitions is the main issue which has prompted you to contest for the post in Tucta? Don’t you have another agenda for the workers?

A: No, I have several issues I want to address once I’m elected. First, I will ensure proper supervision of social security funds. My opinion is that social security funds should be governed by workers themselves because they aren’t government properties, they belong to workers. They, therefore, need to respond to workers’ needs and demands and the government should remain the custodian.

Weak Tucta leadership is the main factor behind a failure to do that. Tucta has given powers to government to control security funds. The government is spending money from social security funds the way it wants. It has been failing to service the big loans it take for projects. This needs to be addressed.

This has plunged the funds into huge losses as reported by the Controller and Auditor’s General (CAG) in the 2014/15 financial report. Apart from ensuring the funds stop making losses, I will advocate for their unifications. The country should have two social security funds; one for public and the other for private sector workers. We don’t need many funds.

I will propose unification of Public Service Pensions Funds (PSPF), the Local Authority Pensions Fund (LAPF), the Government Employees Pensions Fund (GEPF) and the Parastatal Pensions Fund (PPF) into stronger pension fund to serve all government employees.

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) will remain with responsibilities to serve the employees from the private sector. Having many pension funds invite unnecessary scramble for members. Information has it that PSPF and LAPF spend about Sh2 billion for lobbying newly recruited teachers to join their funds.

I will also lobby for them to be under one ministry responsible for Labour, contrary to the prevailing setup whereby funds are managed by different ministries.

Q: You earlier told me there are 14 trade unions forming Tucta, are you happy with multi-trade unions in the country?

A: Multi-trade unions don’t build solidarity among workers. In fact, there are 24 trade unions with 14 forming the congress while 10 operate on their own.

The public sector has six trade unions, namely, the Tanzania Teachers Union (TTU), the Tanzania Local Government Workers Union (TALGWU), Researchers, Academicians and Allied Workers Union (RAAWU), the Tanzania Higher Learning Institutions Trade Union, (THTU) and now I am told there is a Tanzania Doctors and Pharmacists Workers Union.

We can’t build solidarity with six trade unions in the public sector. I will campaign for formation of one strong trade union to carter for public servants and that the current sectorial unions become departments. I will also advocate for one strong trade union for the private sector employees.

With about 540,000 workers in the public sector, we will have a strong trade union if they decide to come together under one umbrella. This will augment our powers to defend for workers’ welfare and that’s an important weapon.

Q: Do you have other agenda you want to take with you to the Congress?

A: Ooh, yes. We need to build a culture to respect labour laws and regulations. Both sides should respect the laws and regulations. This will reduce unnecessary disputes between workers and employers. Also, the two sides will be motivated to engage into collective bargaining in accordance with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention number 98 ratified by the country and incorporated in the Employment and Labour Relations Act of 2004.

Through my position, I will advise the government to attract foreign and domestic investment which will promote efficiency in order to benefit workers and the country in general. But, emphasis will be to increase productivity, something which will guarantee improved workers’ welfare.

Also, I will advise for payment of workers outstanding and encourage for the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) because of role it play in strengthening country’s economy. PPP should be promoted to transform informal sector into strong formal sectors that can positively contribute to growth of country’s economy.

I will also advise and advocate for introduction of decentralised curriculum in our schools so as to enable skills based education on traditional income generating activities be the basis for our education in areas such as agriculture, fishing, livestock keeping and mining.

Q: The fifth phase government advocates for hard work. Are you ready to help the government by embracing the same?

A: The government and Tucta should respect and discharge responsibilities according to constitutions and laws governing the country. Tucta will do the same and therefore mark necessary contributions in developing the country.

Q: Do you think Tucta’s movement will be affected by the government ban of rallies and demonstrations imposed against political parties in the country?

A: Trade unions and political parties differ in their struggles. Our activities are described and governed by the Labour and Employment Relations Act of 1992. We are directed to solve disputes through mediation and arbitration through machinery set by law. Decisions to hold a strike is reached as a last resort through voting, and it is reached after efforts to resolve the dispute have proved failure.

On the contrary, political movements are engineered by party leaders, they are the ones mobilising for rallies and demonstrations to fulfil political ambitions. Though there are also laws and regulations governing them, but experience shows that politicians are fond of using pressure and force to have their way around their arguments.

My feeling is we stand in a better position to peacefully meet our demands in this government’s era compared to politicians.

Q: President John Magufuli has several times reiterated that he didn’t want unnecessary blocks in his quest to redeem the country from poverty. What is your take on that?

A: It is worth to have such a President with such ambition in the country. What is important is for every side to follow and adhere to the laws and regulations.

The government should do that and the trade unions should do the same. We should stop intimidating each other as the union under my leadership assures him great support.

But, since leading trade unions is a movement requiring for individual and groups struggle one should tell his/her family on threats to be arrested, detained and even facing prosecutions.

When Kings African Rifles (KAR) soldiers rioted in 1964, 240 union leaders were arrested and detained for incitement. So, facing police arrests, detention and prosecution over baseless accusations are daily threats facing union leaders.

Anyone wishing to become a trade union leader, he or she should be prepared for the four major issues, they are the costs one should be prepared to incur. Someone fearing arrests, detentions, prosecutions and serving jail terms does not fit to become trade union leader.