By: Yunus S Saliu
The Chairman of the Gambia Trade Union Bureau (GAMTUB) has called for unity among the labour movement to enable them decent work that involves opportunities and social protection for their families.
Kebba Masaneh Ceesay made this call on Sunday during a press conference held at the Trade Union House – Jimpex in celebration of the Workers Day also known as May Day.
In his address he said the Labour Movement must be prepared to unite into one National Labour front in order to work with government to ensure decent work that involve work opportunities that are productive, good income, security at work place and social protection for workers and their families.
Meanwhile, congratulated the working fraternity on the celebration of the remarkable day saying the day is celebrated all over the world by workers through rally, match pass and mass meeting to vent out grievances and concerns affecting their working conditions.
But “unfortunately, in The Gambia, because of disunity among most of the workers union, they chose to use the government and employer platforms by way of May Day Sports to celebrate Workers Day.”
In order to better the living standards of the workers, he said the workers union should be able to hold their own event to express their concerns as regarding high cost of living, poor wages and working conditions. And also, the frequent and unfair labour practices perpetuated by unscrupulous employers “demanding our rightful position in the socio economic development of the country among other things,” he noted.
As part of their quest for better living standard, he disclosed that “in July 2017 trade union leaders from the Gambia Labour Congress, Gambia National Trade Union Congress, The Gambia Teachers Union and Gambia Press Union converged under the auspices of the International Trade Union Confederation to sign an agreement to form a working committee. This is with a view to create united Labour Organization Gambia Trade Union Bureau (GAMTUB).”
Since inception of GAMTUB, he said, the bureau undertook many activities towards reorganizing and revitalizing the Trade Union Movements in the Gambia giving the fact that the Labor Movement has been saturated by Trade Unions most of which are not well organized.
Chairman Ceesay highlighted some of the trade union achievement since reformed in 2017 which among are capacity assessment for GAMTUB leaders, mapping workshop for transport union and informal sector, trainers of trainers for transport and informal sector, trade union seminar for youths and women, leadership seminar for the executive committee members.
He as well used the occasion to pay tribute to the Gambian Trade Union leaders that laid the foundation and made significant gains for Gambian Workers which among include Edward Francis Small – founder of the first trade union organsation in The Gambia, The Gambia Labour Union, Kebba Njie – founder of the first Transport Union, Alhaji B.B. Kebbeh , M. E. Jallow known as Jallow Jallow Union, Muhammed Masaneh CEESAY known as M.M. – founder of the Gambia Labour Congress, Henry Foster – founder of the Gambia Farmer Union, Daddy Sowe – founder of the most talked about Transport Control Association.
