IndustriALL spotlight on Malawi

Malawian unions organizing in IndustriALL sectors have challenges but they have huge potential to grow members and power if they can work together.

said Fabian Nkomo, Regional Secretary of IndustriALL Sub-Sahara Africa, after the factory visits and two-day workshop on 4-6 March 2014 in capital city Lilongwe.

	BCCEAWU	CIAWU	TGLSSEWU	CEMAWU	TOTAL
Paid membership	8,930	5,200	6,543	1,147	21,820
Paid membership IndustriALL sectors	1,242	750	959	1,147	4,098
Potential	35,000	20,000	37,000	35,000	127,000 (at least)
Potential in IndustriALL sectors	18,000	2,500	7,000	35,000	62,500
No. Staff	5	4	6	3	18
No. of CBAs	5	6	9	0	20
Location HQ	Blantyre	Blantyre	Blantyre	Lilongwe
Women structures	?	Yes	Yes	No

There is a large potential for organizing workers in IndustriALL’s sectors in Malawi. The three IndustriALL affiliated unions, with a fourth in the process of affiliation, have targeted priority organizing targets and already represent 21,820 members.

The potential organizing work for the unions was mapped out during the mission and possibilities for a joint programme were discussed in the presence of representatives from Finnish IndustriALL affiliate Metalli and Finnish solidarity support organisation SASK.

The mission was impressed with enthusiastic and committed trade union officials of each of the affiliates, all ready to work in unity, and was also impressed by the openness to organizing from workers and employers.

See the eye-opening photos attached to this article that offer a snapshot of working conditions for IndustriALL members in Malawi.