An inter professional union is underway

By Badylon Kawanda Bakiman

In Kikwit, an economic and political town in the Kwilu province in the south-west of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a large-scale trade union has just been created to defend the rights and interests of workers. The union is called “Syndicat interprofessionnel de Kikwit (SIK)”.

The genesis of this union took place a few days ago at the headquarters of the ‘’Confédération syndicale du Congo (CSC)’’, housed in the MOCC (Mouvement ouvrier chrétien du Congo) building in ‘’Grand Bandundu’’, in the commune of Lukemi. The meeting was considered to be the Constitutive General Assembly.

The SIK is committed to pooling the strengths and strategies of its members, so that trade union action is effective and workers' rights and interests are guaranteed and enforced by employers in all areas of life.

This newborn union comprises the CSC (Confédération syndicale du Congo), UNTC (Union nationale des travailleurs du Congo), UPDTC (Union pour la défense des travailleurs du Congo) and many others. SIK is determined to apply the logic of “Union is strength”.
“There are several unions, but each works on its own. But we all have the same objective: to defend workers' rights and interests. We felt that there is strength in unity. That's why we decided, by mutual agreement, to create the Syndicat interprofessionnel de Kikwit, in the presence of Father Jerôme Mwisi from the Masimanimba territory. Even birds have their own groups. Together we'll do great things”, explained SIK president elect Etienne Mvula.

He also invited other unions of all persuasions to join this inter professional union for joint actions against employers.

A committee set up

On the same day, the members elected and set up a committee called the “Comité des syndicats interprofessionnels de Kikwit”. This committee will preside over the destiny of the structure and its members. It is headed by Etienne Mvula of the CSC for a three-year term.

“The priority for us is to enforce the SMIG (Guaranteed Minimum Inter professional Wage), as indicated in the decree issued by the Minister in charge”, insisted the Committee Chairman.

For her part, Maguy Makila Masala, another member of the committee, pointed out that they had been planning the creation of an inter-union like this for a long time. Now it's a done deal.

“Trade unions play a fundamental role in ensuring respect for the right to work, and in particular the right to fair and favorable working conditions. They defend employees' interests, both collectively and individually, at national and company level. To this end, they can take all kinds of protest action (strikes, demonstrations, petitions, etc.). Union groups also have access to numerous internal documents. In this way, they can guarantee transparency of information to all. Through their delegates, they also play an important communication role within the structure”, acknowledges ‘Les Echos Solutions’, one of the world's leading human rights institutions.