Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union
The Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) is a trade union which represents 200,000 agriculture sector workers (2005 estimate[1]) in Kenya, including tea, coffee, and flower workers. The KPAWU was established in 1963 when several unions were amalgamated.[2] Its head office is in Nakuru, a regional centre.[3] The KPAWU is affiliated to the Central Organization of Trade Unions.[1]
Founded | 1963 |
---|---|
Members | 200,000 (2005) |
Office location | Nakuru, Kenya |
Country | Kenya |
Political activities
The KPAWU is engaged with a number of labour issues. Some of its work is focused on the elimination of child labour in Kenya's agricultural sector.[3] Where plantation owners are seeking Fair Trade certification for their produce, the KPAWU plays a role in the implementation of international labour standards required under the Fair Trade rules.[4]
The KPAWU is opposed to mechanization of plantations on the grounds that the introduction of machines is a threat to jobs. For example, in 2006 it threatened strike action against a plantation owner which sought to introduce tea-picking machines.[5]
See also
Further reading
- David Hyde. Plantation Struggles in Kenya: trade unionism on the land, 1945-65. Unpublished Ph.D thesis, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London [2000]. This is a detailed historical account of the formative years of the K.P.A.W.U.
- David Hyde.Undercurrents to Independence: Plantation Struggles in Kenya’s Central Province 1959-60, Journal of Eastern African Studies Volume 4 Issue 3, 2010. This research article gives a detailed historical account of the formative struggles of the plantation unions.
References
- Wangui, M. 2004, 'Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union: Workshop on collective bargaining for agricultural workers' Archived 2004-09-12 at the Wayback Machine, International Labour Organisation, 28 May. Retrieved on 20 March 2009.
- Leitner, K. 1976, 'The situation of agricultural workers in Kenya', Review of African Political Economy, Vol. 3, No. 6, May, pp. 34-50.
- Wiser Earth 2006, Organization Info: Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union KPAWU, wiserearth.org, 20 July. Retrieved on 10 September 2008.
- Great Britain Parliament House of Commons International Development Committee 2007, Fair Trade and Development: Seventh Report of Session 2006-07, Vol. 2: Oral and Written Evidence, The Stationery Office, London, p. 98.
- Onchana, E. 2007, 'Minister's decision to ban use of tea plucking machines halted' Archived 2007-03-06 at the Wayback Machine, Kenya Law Reports, January. Retrieved on 10 September 2008.