Trade Union Strengthening: Capacity strengthening of TAMICO Executive Board

Introduction

The TAMICO Union joins FIC, together with other trade unions and youth organizations in Tanzania and Kenya a partnership programme called ‘Decent Work and Labour Rights in East Africa.’

FIC through partnerships with trade unions in Kenya and Tanzania initiated programme aimed at developing improved employment conditions for workers through capacity building of trade unions in both countries. The understanding was that with efforts for capacity strengthening and with mutual learning and cooperation, trade unions stand greater chance to improve the conditions of work for the majority of workers.

Decent Work and Labour Rights in East Africa is a programme involving five trade unions and four youth organizations in Kenya and Tanzania. The Main objectives of the programme are as below:

The development objective of the program is:

The employment conditions in Tanzania and Kenya have improved and youth have access to decent employment in line with existing national and international labour laws and regulations.

Immediate objectives

The immediate objectives of the program are:

1. The strengthened capacity of partner trade unions in Kenya and Tanzania to advocate for and create awareness about workers’ rights and respect of labour market legislation contribute to improved working conditions.
2. The strengthened capacity of partner youth organisations in Kenya and Tanzania to create awareness and to advocate for increased and improved job opportunities for youth has contributed to better conditions for establishing sustainable businesses and increased success in their job seeking.

The TAMICO being a trade union will contribute to the immediate objective 1. The following results are expected to contribute to specific objective 1 which is related to capacity building of TAMICO:

Expected Outcome

Outcome 1: Effective engagement of employers and governments by trade unions (contribute to improved working conditions and better welfare)

Output 1.1: Target group and partners have increased capacity to address workers’ rights and health and safety issues for improved working conditions

Output 1.2: Unions have increased their capacity to recruit members and negotiate for CBAs which lead to better employment conditions at work places[1]

Output 1.3: Increased capacity and efficiency of trade unions in advocacy and lobbying for decent working conditions

1.4.1Executive committee in each union is overseeing and monitoring the implementation of the unions strategic plan and use of financial resources

1.4.2All involved unions have reviewed their internal operations and structures having in place strategic plans and structures needed to implement the plans

Output 1.5: Established governance and structures is leading to internal transparency and accountability in trade unions involved in the program

Building the capacity of the Executive Committee of trade unionstheir role, M& E, decision making and financial and administrative procedures

The National Executive Committee is the governing body of every trade union and charged with overseeing the overall direction of the union and the policy-making process. It carries out this role by setting strategic objectives on an annual basis and meeting regularly to review and manage the work of the union. Trade union Executive committee is accountable to the general membership by ensuring that the planned activities are effectively implemented and the objectives achieved.

At the programme level 4 pillars have been designed in order to achieve the objectives related to trade union effectiveness: strengthened organizational capacity of the unions, increased workplace knowledge of working environment related issues, increased involvement of young workers and strong emphasis on advocacy for respect of labour market legislation in work places and national level is supposed to create sustainable vibrant unions taking care of members interest at all levels, and with members being engaged in the union activities.

In relation to the above, for the trade union to succeed in meeting her objectives the leadership, and particularly the Executive committee must comprise individuals who are well informed of, at the same time motivated and possess capacity to play their role.

The previous experiences have shown that while most trade unions leaders articulate well their role, they lack the commitment or the competence to realizing the objectives they have set out. One of the gaps that have contributed to the situation is poor or lack of proper planning, execution and follow-up.

Train national officials and executive committee in the role of NEC, M & E, decision making and financial and administrative procedures has been identified as one of the key interventions.

This training is developed to precede the strategic planning process and is also built as an enrichment of the process. It is expected that at the successful end of the five days training, the Executive committee will have the ability to effectively make meaningful contribution at the strategic planning workshop and commit themselves to the implementation, but also in their ability to carry out the day to day activities of the union in relation to their roles.

Objectives of capacity building of the TAMICO Executive Committee in their role, M& E, decision making and financial and administrative procedures is to ensure Executive:

• Recognize and appreciate their role towards the union realizing its core mandate
• Is able to prioritize in its planning, core activities and committing its resources towards realization of its core mandate
• Competent in proper planning, executing, monitor, evaluate and profile, or document as a process of building a learning and sustainable organization

Methodology

A competent consultant will facilitate a five days workshop for the Executive Committee of the TAMICO Workers Union under the guidance of the Programme Cluster Coordinator and the FIC Programme Coordinator and in close cooperation with the TAMICO Executive Committee representatives.

The workshop is expected to be engaging and practical and built on ‘doing’ rather than ‘how to do’. The workshop is intended to inspire and help in challenging the status quo so that the union leadership is able to adopt new ways of doing things, using systems, tools, structures and processes. The workshop should inspire individual and collective participation. The date set for the workshop is 14th - 17th July 2015.

The programme for the five days will be developed by the consultant, discussed and agreed upon with the project team before the workshop.

Key areas to be considered are as below:

• The roles of the Executive Committee towards realizing the union goals
• Effective planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation as important factors in trade union development. Cooperation between various structures and committees in realizing this.
• Documentation, feedback and reporting as a process of building a learning and sustainable organization
• Allocation and commitment of resources towards realization of union mission

Outputof the training workshop:

1. Five days workshop programme:
2. The training of NECT is conducted: covering the role of NEC, monitoring and decision-making and financial and administrative procedures and the development of monitoring framework in line with Activity 1.4.1 in the project document. The workshop must emphasize the role of NEC in the effective running of the union in terms of prioritization of issues, commitment to implementation and allocation of resources. The workshop should be viewed as a critical foundation in preparation for effective implementation of the strategic plan.
3. Workshop reportdeveloped: on whether the training objectives were met, the gaps and recommendation.
4. Framework for effective monitoring of union activities by NEC.

HOW TO APPLY:

Expression of Interest

We looking for a qualified Tanzanian, or East African consultant who must demonstrate extensive experience in capacity building especially along the line of Trade union strengthening. The consultant must have a track record on facilitation and conversant with the labour laws of Tanzania. The consultant must have the ability to inspire change in the leadership to make it responsive to the needs of the members.

If you are confident you can deliver on the above TOR and match the quality mentioned, please send your Expression of interest to:

RUVUMBAGU PHILOTEA ruvumbaguphilotea@yahoo.ca

Ruta Kaigarula rkaigarula@yahoo.com and

Caspar Pedo of casparpedo@gmail.com