Atwoli re-elected as Organization of African Trade Union Unity president

Central Organization of Trade Unions COTU (K) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has been re-elected as President of the Organization of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU).

Atwoli was unanimously re-elected as OATUU President on Saturday to serve his third term.

The elections were conducted during the ongoing 12th Congress of OATUU that is taking place in Algiers, Algeria.

Founded in 1973 and headquartered in Accra Ghana, OATUU is the only African trade union organisation that represents all the trade union interests in Africa.

It has 60 affiliates across 54 African countries, with a total membership of about 25 million people.

Since 2013, Atwoli has served in the prestigious role of President of OATUU considering his wealth of experience and a deep commitment to advancing the rights and interests of workers across the African continent.

"The re-election reflects the trust and confidence placed in Atwoli by fellow African trade union leaders within the OATUU community," COTU Deputy SG Benson Okwaro said.

In his acceptance speech, Atwoli expressed gratitude for the support received from fellow trade unionists and pledged to work tirelessly to strengthen the collective voice of African workers on the international stage.

He emphasized the importance of solidarity among trade union organizations from all 54 African Countries in addressing common challenges and promoting fair labour practices across the continent.

As President of OATUU, Atwoli will lead efforts to address pressing issues facing workers in Africa.

They include job security, social protection and the promotion of decent work.

This renewed mandate is expected to bring about positive changes that will resonate across the entire African labour landscape.

"COTU (K) extends its best wishes to Dr. Atwoli as he continues to serve workers on the continent and globally," Okwaro said.

"The organisation remains confident that his leadership will contribute to the advancement of the trade union movement in Africa and the improvement of working conditions for millions of African workers," he added.

Atwoli is a titular Member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Governing Body.

During the recently concluded 349th session of the Governing Body, in Geneva, Atwoli led trade unionists from the continent in securing a vote in favour of seeking a resolution from the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

This was over a long-standing dispute between workers’ and employers’ representatives on the right to strike.