While on February 18, 2019, the world celebrates Global Day of Action for the Right to Strike, the Confederation of Burundi Employees’ Unions –COSYBU salutes the presence of the National Social Dialogue Committee.
Tharcisse Gahungu: “the government initiated the dialogue framework which is the National Committee on Social Dialogue”.
Tharcisse Gahungu says all employees have the right to strike as stipulated by the national labor code and the lnternational Labour Organization ratified by Burundi government. “The Article 8 of the labor code of Burundi says it. Freedom of association has as its corollary the free determination of the conditions of collective bargaining and the freedom to resort to collective disputes, including the use of strikes and lockouts, under the conditions set by law”.
Mr. Gahungu says history has shown that Burundian workers have fought hard and since long ago to improve their working conditions including striking when it is necessary.
He says today workers are still aware that they have the right to strike but dialogue is given the priority. “Strikes have decreased because the government initiated the dialogue framework which is the National Committee on Social Dialogue”
Mr, Gahungu says both employees and employers have some claims but that they focus on communication. “When there is a strike, both employees and employers lose”.
Without the right to strike, trade unions and workers have no other means to fight for their rights. That is why the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has designated February 18 as a global day of action in defence of the right to strike.
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