DRC: the urgency of freeing public companies from unions troublemakers!

There are growing voices to denounce the practices of some trade union delegations in public companies. Manipulation, tribalism, influence peddling, politicization of demands, … Therefore, it is urgent to free these societies from the state of trade union movements troublemakers.

In order to put an end to these harmful deviations from the survival of these structures already suffocated by charges and requiring fresh capital for their effective recovery, some advocate two solutions.

Firstly, the organization of trade union elections should be considered in order to replace and / or renew the mandates of union delegates and the inter-union. In most cases, trade unionists seem to take advantage of persistent and lasting crises to drag themselves out of their positions beyond their elective mandates.

For example, at the Post and Telecommunications Trade Corporation (CTSP), the last union elections were held in 2011. Eight years later, within the company some people have noticed that a group of individuals from the Confederation workers and the intersyndicale prevaricate to go to these elections while the ministry of supervision and the labor inspection have already authorized this procedure.

If the exercise of freedom of association implies the respect of obligations and rights, it is imperative that the competent authorities ensure the application of the law within the public enterprises. The lull reached the Congolese Office of Control (OCC) and the Congolese National Radio and Television (RTNC) after the union elections. This should inspire.

Secondly, the moralization of trade union practices.

This major process should not be limited to politics. Because, this one and the syndicalism are not so opposite that that. Professionals of the politicized and / or instrumentalised trade union mandate and employees who have a career in trade unionism.

In fine, elected officials who are no longer on the ground are cut off from the field and the world of work. And they indulge in certain practices are sometimes at the limit of morality or legality.

Ce matin encore, les agents de la société congolaise des transports et ports à Matadi ont remis dans le cercueil leur directeur général Daniel Mukoko Samba. Ils l’accusent d’une « gestion satanique » et réclament 14 mois d’arriérés de salaire. #RDC pic.twitter.com/3YfdDPXIhU

— Tshaku News (@NewsTshaku) February 4, 2019

This morning again, the agents of the Congolese transport and ports company in Matadi handed over their director general, Daniel Mukoko Samba, to the coffin. They accuse him of « satanic management » and claim 14 months of salary arrears.

Consequence: the manipulation of agents to the point of preventing and threatening some of death, politicization and personification of claims, the denial of the reality of business, the desire to remain and retain the privileges of elected mandates, etc.

All in all, the national executive should accompany public companies already « lame duck » in the process of respecting the elective mandates of unions and moralizing trade union practices. Public proxies should also apply to it.

Above all, the State owner and sole shareholder is invited to finalize the process of transformation of these companies to allow them to have a breath of fresh air to better revive.

Philippe NZITA