Is there a voice for the workers that is greater than that of COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli? I believe there isn’t any that is even closer to his.
Could this be the reason that Kenya National Union of Teachers saw it right to join Atwoli’s COTU?
Just after KNUT joined COTU, Atwoli made a solemn promise to Kenyan Teachers.
“Nobody will have control over you once you affiliate yourself with an outfit like Cotu,” he added.
“TSC should join the Federation of Kenya Employers immediately or else they will be rendered irrelevant,” he said.
He said the government will now be able to listen to Kenya’s working men and women after the partnership with Knut.
“We support you in the government…so support us as workers… if not, then we can also revolt and we are also in a position to determine what we want in any system.. be it in the employer or in government,” Atwoli said.
Atwoli said as a union they will be in a position to articulate pending issues including the ones in future together as an entity.
” We need to ask those unscrupulous employers to improve our CBA’s so that we can move towards the same directions as Kenyans,” he said.
“…and they must hear us. With our unity, we will not beg but demand for workers rights…an injury to one will be an injury to all.”
“We speak without fear or favour and what we have said has always come to pass …we will make sure that we are heard and whatever we demand is implemented,” he said.
“The destiny of our country shall be decided by working men and women. Our brothers in other quarters should listen to us. We are going to be part and parcel of an organ of that will shape shaping our national image culture and traditions.”
The Cotu boss said the labour movement in the country has been professionally managed since they took over.