Kenya’s vocal trade unionist Cotu boss Francis Atwoli on Friday won big! Do you know what? After successful serving for two 4- year terms, Atwoli was re-elected as the Vice President of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). Is it because of trust?
COTU(K) Secretary General Bro. Francis Atwoli @AtwoliDza re-elected as the Vice President of the International Trade Union Confedaration in Copenhagen Denmark.#ituc2018#itucworldcongress.
https://t.co/inAKM5599U…penhagen-denmark/ pic.twitter.com/vCPcEFn5XW
— COTU Kenya (@cotukeofficial) December 7, 2018
Atwoli’s name was earlier proposed by over 3,000 delegates attending the 4th ITUC congress in Copenhagen, Denmark.
He was later elected through a majority vote. The delegates unanimously approved his name for the top job, granting him another four-year term in the leadership of the global trade union.
The vocal workers rights point man is expected to enhance international cooperation between trade unions, spearhead global campaigns and advocacy within the major global institutions.
In his acceptance speech to the congress, Atwoli appreciated the confidence his colleagues have in him and promised to fulfill their interests in the labour market.
“The position you have just bestowed on me this morning is not an easy one , you are sending me to war to fight for working men and women wherever they are in the world,” he said.
“I am only your soldier whose actions come from you , the commanders an I will never let you down, I will stand for your interests and put up my life for you always.”
The Secretary general, who is also the current president of the Organization of African Trade Union Unity( OATUU) and Pan-African Continent’s trade union, was first elected as a titular member to the General Council to the ITUC to represent the East African region.
Atwoli is now serving the third term in the trade union that lives by the principles of trade union democracy and independence.
Others officials elected during the hotly contested elections were the confederations General Secretary Sharan Burrow from Australia.
She garnered a total of 54,783,316 votes beating his challenger Susan Camsso from Italy who got 50,196,465 votes.
The ITUC remains the largest trade union in the world with a membership of 207 million.