Francis Atwoli re-elected as OATUU President
The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has been re-elected to serve his third term as the President of the Organization of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU).
He was re-elected on Saturday, November 18, 2023, during the ongoing 12th Congress of OATUU that is taking place in Algiers, Algeria.
Founded in 1973 and headquartered in Accra Ghana, OATUU 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 Secretary General Benson Okwaro said in a statement.
"Notably, Atwoli is a titular member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Governing Body where 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) over a long-standing dispute between workers and employers' representatives on the right to strike."
Atwoli's role
Okwaro says the trade unionist will be tasked with leading efforts to address pressing issues facing workers in Africa including 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," Okwaro added.
