Trade unionism is a powerful force in the politics, economy, and culture of Senegal, and was one of the earliest trades union movements to form in FrancophoneWest Africa.
Senegal has a long history of Trade Union activism, and was one of the first centers of the African trade union movement, with small unions forming under French colonial rule in the 1920s. During the 1930s Popular Front government of France, limited union legalisation was extended to French subjects in West Africa. Senegal was also the home to the Four Communes, the only areas of French West Africa to afford residents (Originaires) French citizenship.[2]
In the year and a half after limited unionisation rights were granted to colonial subjects and residents of the Four Communes alike (from May to November 1937), 42 professional unions had been created in Senegal. This rapid development included the creation of an all-African trade union confederation for the Dakar area in 1938.[3]
In 1947 railroad workers went on a several-month strike on the Dakar-Niger Railway to obtain the same rights as the French railwaymen. The successful strike was celebrated as a turning point in the anti-colonial struggle by Senegalese writer Ousmane Sembène in his 1960 novel Les bouts de bois de Dieu.
Contemporary union movement
Senegal's fundamental labor legislation is based on the French overseas labor code of 1952, which provides for collective agreements between employers and trade unions, for the fixing of basic minimum wages by the government on recommendation of advisory committees. The code also provides for paid annual leave and for child allowances. The right to strike is recognized by law, and there are special labor courts.
The largest trade union organization is the National Confederation of Senegalese Workers, which since 1970 has been the official union affiliated with the ruling PS. Its major rival is the National Union of Autonomous Labor Unions of Senegal. The industrial workforce is almost totally unionized. Although the relative number of union members is small, they have considerable political power due to their control of vital segments of the economy.
The minimum working age is 16, when minors may work in apprenticeships. The prohibition of child labor is strictly enforced in the formal sector, but somewhat less so in the informal and traditional economies. The labor law provides for a workweek of 40 to 48 hours and minimum occupational and safety and health regulations. However, these labor regulations are not effectively enforced outside of the formal economy. The minimum wage was $0.37 in 2001.
^"Statistics on union membership". Geneva: International Labour Organisation. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
^SENEGAL, The State of Social Dialogue: Report of Trade Union participation in Senegal’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper: The World Bank.
^SENEGAL, The State of Social Dialogue: Report of Trade Union participation in Senegal’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper: The World Bank.
, New Unionism 2007 Union Federation Membership Numbers Survey.
, TUC-CSI-IGB
Guy Pfeffermann. Trade Unions and Politics in French West Africa during the Fourth Republic. African Affairs, Vol. 66, No. 264 (Jul., 1967), pp. 213–230. Guy Pfeffermann is Founder & CEO of Global Business School Network
, in THE POLITICS OF TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL POLICY IN AFRICA: Forced Consensus? Edited by Charles Soludo, Osita Ogbu, and Ha-Joon Chang. Africa World Press/IDRC 2004 ISBN1-59221-165-8
, International Confederation of Free Trade Unions.
Senegal: Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights (2006), International Confederation of Free Trade Unions.
Portions of this article were translated from French Wikipedia's fr:syndicalisme au Sénégal. (2008-06-13)
Further reading
(in French) Nicole Bernard-Duquenet, « Les débuts du syndicalisme au Sénégal au temps du Front populaire », Le Mouvement social, n° 101, octobre-décembre 1977, p. 37-59
(in French) Ibrahima Camara, Syndicalisme, colonialisme et impérialisme au Sénégal, 1972
(in French) Adrien Dioh, Les syndicats de travailleurs au Sénégal, Paris ; Budapest ; Torino, L'Harmattan, 2002, 400 p. ISBN2-7475-2291-1
(in French) Mar Fall, L'État et la question syndicale au Sénégal, Paris, L'Harmattan, 1989, 127 p.
(in French) Omar Guèye, Le mouvement syndical au Sénégal pendant la deuxième guerre mondiale, Dakar, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, 1991, 43 p. (Mémoire de DEA)
(in French) Magatte Lô, Sénégal : syndicalisme et participation responsible, L'Harmattan, 1987
(in French) F. Mulot, « Syndicalisme et politique au Sénégal », Revue française d'études politiques africaines, 158, 1979, p. 63-90
(in French) Birame Ndour, Éléments d'études sur le mouvement ouvrier dans les chemins de fer du Sénégal (1882–1938), Paris, Université de Paris VII, 1981, 67 p. (Diplôme d'Etudes Approfondies)
(in French) E. H. I. Niang, Le rôle du syndicalisme dans le développement économique : le cas du Sénégal, Université Laval, 1987 (M.A.)
(in French) Luis C. Nunes, La Participation du syndicalisme à la construction nationale en Afrique : examples du Sénégal, Mali et Côte d'Ivoire, Genève, Ed. Médecine et Hygiène, 1972
(in French) Jean-Pierre Phan, Syndicalisme et mouvement de libération nationale au Sénégal jusqu'à l'indépendance, 1976
(in French) Christian Roche, Le Sénégal à la conquête de son indépendance, 1939-1960. Chronique de la vie politique et syndicale, de l'Empire français à l'Indépendance, Paris, Karthala, 2001, 286 p.
(in French) Ousmane Kéba Sane, Le mouvement syndical enseignant au Sénégal : Du syndicat unique de l'enseignement laïc (S.U.E.L) au syndicat des enseignants du Sénégal (S.E.S), Dakar, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, 2002, 143 p. (Mémoire de Maîtrise)
(in French) Djibril Alassane Sarr, L’UNTS : histoire d'une centrale syndicale (1962–1971), Dakar, Université de Dakar, 1986, 106 p. (Mémoire de Maîtrise)
(in French) Ahmat Hadji Sidimi, Le mouvement ouvrier dans le chemin de fer 1917-1925. Genèse, évolution, Dakar, Université de Dakar, 1983, 126 p. + 4 p. (Mémoire de Maîtrise)
(in French)Iba Der Thiam, L’évolution politique et syndicale du Sénégal colonial de 1840 à 1936, Paris, Université de Paris I, 1983, 9 vol., 5 179 p. (Thèse d'État)
(in French) Adrien Dioh, Les syndicats de travailleurs au Sénégal, Paris ; Budapest ; Torino : L'Harmattan, 2002, 400 p. ISBN2-7475-2291-1
External links
(in French)
(in French) . Senegalese news stories related to trade union militancy.
trade, unions, senegal, trade, unionism, powerful, force, politics, economy, culture, senegal, earliest, trades, union, movements, form, francophone, west, africa, national, organization, cnts, udts, unsasdensity22, 2015, global, rights, index4, systematic, vi. Trade unionism is a powerful force in the politics economy and culture of Senegal and was one of the earliest trades union movements to form in Francophone West Africa Trade unions in SenegalNational organization s CNTS UDTS UNSASDensity22 2015 1 Global Rights Index4 Systematic violations of rightsInternational Labour OrganizationSenegal is a member of the ILOConvention ratificationFreedom of Association4 November 1960Right to Organise28 July 1961Contents 1 History of Trade unionism in Senegal 2 Contemporary union movement 3 Principal Trade Union and Confederations 3 1 Historic unions 4 References 4 1 Further reading 5 External linksHistory of Trade unionism in Senegal EditSenegal has a long history of Trade Union activism and was one of the first centers of the African trade union movement with small unions forming under French colonial rule in the 1920s During the 1930s Popular Front government of France limited union legalisation was extended to French subjects in West Africa Senegal was also the home to the Four Communes the only areas of French West Africa to afford residents Originaires French citizenship 2 In the year and a half after limited unionisation rights were granted to colonial subjects and residents of the Four Communes alike from May to November 1937 42 professional unions had been created in Senegal This rapid development included the creation of an all African trade union confederation for the Dakar area in 1938 3 In 1947 railroad workers went on a several month strike on the Dakar Niger Railway to obtain the same rights as the French railwaymen The successful strike was celebrated as a turning point in the anti colonial struggle by Senegalese writer Ousmane Sembene in his 1960 novel Les bouts de bois de Dieu Contemporary union movement EditSenegal s fundamental labor legislation is based on the French overseas labor code of 1952 which provides for collective agreements between employers and trade unions for the fixing of basic minimum wages by the government on recommendation of advisory committees The code also provides for paid annual leave and for child allowances The right to strike is recognized by law and there are special labor courts The largest trade union organization is the National Confederation of Senegalese Workers which since 1970 has been the official union affiliated with the ruling PS Its major rival is the National Union of Autonomous Labor Unions of Senegal The industrial workforce is almost totally unionized Although the relative number of union members is small they have considerable political power due to their control of vital segments of the economy The minimum working age is 16 when minors may work in apprenticeships The prohibition of child labor is strictly enforced in the formal sector but somewhat less so in the informal and traditional economies The labor law provides for a workweek of 40 to 48 hours and minimum occupational and safety and health regulations However these labor regulations are not effectively enforced outside of the formal economy The minimum wage was 0 37 in 2001 Principal Trade Union and Confederations EditDemocratic Union of Senegalese Workers Union Democratique des Travailleurs de Senegal UDTS National Confederation of Senegalese Workers Confederation Nationale des Travailleurs du Senegal CNTS Dakar Dem Dikk Workers Democratic Union Dakar Public Transit Workers Union democratique des travailleurs de Dakar Dem Dikk UDT 3D National Confederation of Senegalese Workers Force of Change Confederation Nationale des Travailleurs du Senegal Forces du Changemen CNTS FC National Union of Autonomous Trade Unions of Senegal Union Nationale des Syndicats Autonomes de Senegal UNSAS Senegales Confederation of Free Unions Confederation des syndicats autonomes du Senegal CSA General Confederation of Office and Administrative Workers Confederation generale des syndicats de cadres et du personnel d encadrement COGES General Confederation of Senegalese Democratic Workers Confederations generale des travailleurs democratiques du Senegal CGTDS General Federation of Senegalese Workers Tendency A Federation generale des travailleurs du Senegal Tendance A FGTS General Federation of Senegalese Workers Tendency B Federation generale des travailleurs du Senegal Tendance B FGTS Union of Free Senegalese Workers Union des travailleurs libres du Senegal UTLS Union of Senegalese Democratic Workers Syndicat des travailleurs democratique du Senegal STDS Historic unions Edit Senegalese Workers Union Union Senegalaise des Travailleurs 1962 64References Edit Statistics on union membership Geneva International Labour Organisation Retrieved 20 October 2019 SENEGAL The State of Social Dialogue Report of Trade Union participation in Senegal s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper The World Bank SENEGAL The State of Social Dialogue Report of Trade Union participation in Senegal s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper The World Bank Beyond the numbers game Peter Hall Jones New Unionism 2007 Union Federation Membership Numbers Survey 2007 Annual Survey of violations of trade union rights Senegal TUC CSI IGB Guy Pfeffermann Trade Unions and Politics in French West Africa during the Fourth Republic African Affairs Vol 66 No 264 Jul 1967 pp 213 230 Guy Pfeffermann is Founder amp CEO of Global Business School Network 11 Senegal Institutional Aspects of Trade and Industry Policy Gaye Daffe and Momar Coumba Diop in THE POLITICS OF TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL POLICY IN AFRICA Forced Consensus Edited by Charles Soludo Osita Ogbu and Ha Joon Chang Africa World Press IDRC 2004 ISBN 1 59221 165 8 Internationally recognised Core Labour Standards in Niger and Senegal REPORT FOR THE WTO GENERAL COUNCIL REVIEW OF THE TRADE POLICIES OF NIGER AND SENEGAL Geneva 22 24 September 2003 International Confederation of Free Trade Unions Senegal Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights 2006 International Confederation of Free Trade Unions Portions of this article were translated from French Wikipedia s fr syndicalisme au Senegal 2008 06 13 Further reading Edit in French Nicole Bernard Duquenet Les debuts du syndicalisme au Senegal au temps du Front populaire Le Mouvement social n 101 octobre decembre 1977 p 37 59 in French Ibrahima Camara Syndicalisme colonialisme et imperialisme au Senegal 1972 in French Adrien Dioh Les syndicats de travailleurs au Senegal Paris Budapest Torino L Harmattan 2002 400 p ISBN 2 7475 2291 1 in French Mar Fall L Etat et la question syndicale au Senegal Paris L Harmattan 1989 127 p in French Omar Gueye Le mouvement syndical au Senegal pendant la deuxieme guerre mondiale Dakar Universite Cheikh Anta Diop 1991 43 p Memoire de DEA in French Magatte Lo Senegal syndicalisme et participation responsible L Harmattan 1987 in French F Mulot Syndicalisme et politique au Senegal Revue francaise d etudes politiques africaines 158 1979 p 63 90 in French Birame Ndour Elements d etudes sur le mouvement ouvrier dans les chemins de fer du Senegal 1882 1938 Paris Universite de Paris VII 1981 67 p Diplome d Etudes Approfondies in French E H I Niang Le role du syndicalisme dans le developpement economique le cas du Senegal Universite Laval 1987 M A in French Luis C Nunes La Participation du syndicalisme a la construction nationale en Afrique examples du Senegal Mali et Cote d Ivoire Geneve Ed Medecine et Hygiene 1972 in French Jean Pierre Phan Syndicalisme et mouvement de liberation nationale au Senegal jusqu a l independance 1976 in French Christian Roche Le Senegal a la conquete de son independance 1939 1960 Chronique de la vie politique et syndicale de l Empire francais a l Independance Paris Karthala 2001 286 p in French Ousmane Keba Sane Le mouvement syndical enseignant au Senegal Du syndicat unique de l enseignement laic S U E L au syndicat des enseignants du Senegal S E S Dakar Universite Cheikh Anta Diop 2002 143 p Memoire de Maitrise in French Djibril Alassane Sarr L UNTS histoire d une centrale syndicale 1962 1971 Dakar Universite de Dakar 1986 106 p Memoire de Maitrise in French Ahmat Hadji Sidimi Le mouvement ouvrier dans le chemin de fer 1917 1925 Genese evolution Dakar Universite de Dakar 1983 126 p 4 p Memoire de Maitrise in French Iba Der Thiam L evolution politique et syndicale du Senegal colonial de 1840 a 1936 Paris Universite de Paris I 1983 9 vol 5 179 p These d Etat in French Adrien Dioh Les syndicats de travailleurs au Senegal Paris Budapest Torino L Harmattan 2002 400 p ISBN 2 7475 2291 1External links Edit in French Confederation Nationale des Travailleurs du Senegal CNTS in French Solidarite Ouvriere Senegal Senegalese news stories related to trade union militancy Cases Before the Committee on Freedom of Association Senegal International Labour Organization of the United Nations Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Trade unions in Senegal amp oldid 933818118, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
