Why Should I Join a UNION?

I. SENSE OF SECURITY -workers may join the unions because of their belief that it is an effective way to secure adequate protection from various types of hazards and income insecurity such as accident, injury, illness, unemployment, etc. The Trade union secure retirement benefits for the workers and compel the management to invest in welfare services for the benefit of the workers.
2 BETTERMENT OF RELATIONSHIPS workers joining unions is that workers feel that unions can fulfill the important need for adequate machinery for proper maintenance of employer-employee relations. Unions help in the betterment of industrial relations among management and workers by solving the problems peacefully.
3 UNION MEMBERS ENJOY HIGHER PAY, better sickness and pension benefits, more paid holiday and more control over things like shifts and working hours. This is because workers join together to negotiate pay and conditions rather than leaving them up to employers. This is through the collective bargaining agreement.
4 Ensure MEMBERS ARE TREATED WITH RESPECT - for example, opposing employers closing pension's schemes and stopping new workers being employed on worse terms and conditions.
5 YOUR UNION REPRESENTS YOU IN DISPUTE RESOLUTION. The union’s legal team ensures you are treated fairly -without you having to worry about paying. Every year, unions win
millions in compensation for members who suffer injuries or are treated unfairly at work.
6 IT IS A VOICE AT WORK THROUGH THEIR
SHOP STEWARDS/ CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVES. Companies where workers are involved in decisions, have better training opportunities, are fairly rewarded and can help companies survive bad times.

Rights of a Worker

The Kenyan Labour Laws 2007 defines the fundamental rights of
Employment. These include: -
1. Rights to join a trade union
2. Fair treatment at the workplace
3. Fight to receive full payment for work done
4. Right to work safely
5. Right for compensation for an injury at work
6. Right to equal opportunity (Irrespective of gender, religion)
7. Right to the termination notice
8. Right to a written contract of service
9. Right to one rest day per week
10. Right to 21 days of annual leave with full pay
11. Right to leave (maternity, paternity and sick)
12. Right to be given certificate of service upon the termination of employment.

What Is A Trade Union and It Roles?

The Labour Relation Act defines it as "an association of Workers whose principal purpose is to regulate relations between workers and employers, including any employers' Organization.

ROLE OF TRADE UNIONS

• To represents the workers' interest to the employers.

• To champion for better working conditions and remuneration for its members.

• To advocate sound relationship between employers and workers through the promotion and protection of freedom of association, Collective Bargaining Agreements, and dispute resolution.

• Its leadership bargains with the employer(s) on behalf of union members and negotiates CBAs with employers.

• It represents workers at disciplinary and grievance hearings.

Employers Duties in Matters of Health and Safety

The union believes that deaths, injuries, and ill health are caused because employers fail to provide a safe and healthy working environment, and often over-rely upon personal protective equipment (PPE). In fact, (PPE) should only be used as a last resort and only then to supplement other control methods.
The employer should provide a working environment that is safe and without risks to health and does not damage the environment, identify hazards in the workplace carry out workplace risk assessments before exposing workers to hazards, identify and put into place risk management prevention and/or control measures to eliminate or minimize the risk from the hazards identified, provide full information to workers, provide good health and safety training programmes, provide opportunities for workers and their trade unions to be consulted about all aspects of health safety and environment.

Reports

Labor Laws In Summary

1. Employment Act, 2007
Provides for the rights of both Employers and workers and their
obligations
2. Labour Relations Act, 2007
Provides for the freedom of association for both employers and
workers Provide for dispute resolution mechanisms
3. Labour Institutions Act, 2007
Provides for the creation and management of all Labour institutions
4. Work Injury Benefits Act, 2007
Provides for compensation of all workers for work-related injury or
occupational diseases.
5. Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007
Provides for the elimination of all risks and hazards at the workplace
by ensuring the safety, health, and welfare of persons at work

👌⏬Download Simplified Labor laws book both in Swahili and English⏬👌

Our Youth Leader With Other Fellow Leaders at COTU