BY GIRMACHEW GASHAW –
Since Ethiopia has finalized preparations to conduct the first democratic elections Monday, June 21, 2021, it has invited a number of local and international organizations as observers. One of the licensed civic organizations is Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Union (CETU). It was set up in April 11, 1963 by 29 trade unions with a vision of protecting the right and benefit of workers and setting up labor unions so as to run various activities. Apart from strengthening the unison which was previously established, the confederation works towards creating effective industry relations between employees and employers. It has also working for country’s economic growth, social affairs development and building democratization etc. It is also working together with right based organizations at national and international levels as the workers right is part and parcel of human right. It has henceforth worked to ensure health and job security of the workers.
“At this time, the confederation is an independent entity. However, this does not mean that the government is not interfering in it. This organization is accepted internationally. The information release from the organization is accepted by other bodies. When I came here, for instance, Ethiopian Teachers Association leaders asked me the assembly hall to conduct a meeting. I allowed them to use the assembly hall. The government officials called and told me that the team led by Dr. Taye Woldesemayat was making preparation to establish another teachers association,” said Kassahun Follo, CETU President.
The then security forces ordered me to take the key of assembly hall. I requested them through letter to order me to do so, but they did not want to act upon. Later on, the issue reached to the Prime Minster Office and he ordered the security forces to prohibit the participants of the meeting not to approach to the assembly hall. With this, they couldn’t conduct the meeting. They also interfered in other issues; the leaders of labor unions were arrested and killed.
There are such sorts of interference not to do our job freely. Even with the federation, we fired workers who violated the law and procedures stealing workers money and challenging workers unity. Here, the government officials interfered in our administrative tasks and tried to force the federation to return the worker to their former position. There has been interference anytime, but we don’t support government’s stance.
“CETU is toiling with the government as per the principle of International Labor Organization (ILO). The three parties (the government, employer and employees) should work in Tripartite Advisory Board. Whether you like it or not this principle advised you to work with the government. This does not mean that we are not independent. Whatever type of government it is, we are forced to do with the government which holds power. We are not an entity established to overthrow the government. If the government violates our rights, we stand together so as to respect our rights,” he said.
As CETU, we have been making preparations earlier than that of other civic organizations. We have passed decision last year after deliberating on what would be the contribution of confederation in terms of making the election fair and peaceful. After deliberate on the issue with association, we prepared draft documents. Accordingly, we put three options. These are; choose and support one party, establish our own party but it is difficult to do so and play observatory role taking independent position. If we choose one party, it will dissolve CETU as a member interest is differing. We then decided to be independent from any other party after drawing lesson from the best practice of other countries.
Primarily, we thought to deploy 5,500 elections observant throughout the country. First, we were not given permission from Ethiopian Election Board and prepare project proposal for ten organizations. Accordingly, some organizations based in America and EU are not interested in providing support. We are then forced to minimize the number of observers to 1,360 and provided voters with education for them. In order to create a platform for political parties, we are making preparation to do it soon. And we observed the pre-election process in some selected polling stations as well as dispatching observes to some areas as the final election report will include the pre, during and post-election processes. We have identified places where our observers are going to be on duty.
What differentiates the 6th election with previous elections is the presence of competitive political parties. It is difficult to consider the previous ones as elections. There had not been seen election except the one that had been carried out in 2005 with some criteria. Afterwards, as they had no chance to compete with the ruling party, political parties lost appetite to participate in the elections. As it gives option for the people, the existence of contending political parties is critical. If there are a number of parties, citizens can get option to choose the best. The previous elections couldn’t be compared with the next election.
Civil society organization should be independent. They also work on their members found at the grass root level. We have to take care on issues that will be raised during post-election. We have to stop throwing stones and have to accept what the election board declared. The loser should transfer the position peacefully, and if one has grievance, they have to present their reservations for the concerned bodies following the legal procedure. However, the civil societies should not be tool for one party. We have to solve any problem with pertinent solution but we are not expected to create another problem. Civic society should make their members well aware of their members as they should not support any party and must remain impartial.
Conducting an election is an internal affair of a given country. It is difficult as well as unlawful to interfere in the local issue such as election so long as Ethiopia is a sovereign one. On the other hand, some countries don’t want to send observers. In principle, an observer is a witness for the election. The main thing is found in the hands the general public, the electorate. It is the people who have the right to elect their leaders and decide the fate of the nation. Witnesses can be from local or international entities and are duty bound to evaluate the process of election whether it is democratic or not, and suggest improvements for the coming election. There may not be perfection in the election. As we are beginners, we may face difficulties. So we should not bother along this line.
CETU is more prominent organization internationally than locally. We are a member of world trade unions confederation. We paid all the necessary contribution expected from us and they have assisted us. CETU is one among five strong confederations in Africa equivalent to those of South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya. In 2018, for instance, international trade union confederations summit, Ethiopia was one among the three countries chosen to present its experience in organizing trade unions.
In International Trade Union Confederation for Africa (ICTU), CETU is participating as a deputy chairs position representing 14 African countries. We have established Horn of Africa confederation Trade Unions and have become General Secretary as the office is found in heart of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. Free movement of people through ensuring peace and security, reducing the rate of poverty and migration are some of the concerns on which we are working together with IGAD. Let alone in the aforesaid issues, the Horn countries should work together so as to develop and help countries come out of the vicious cycle of poverty.
The Ethiopian Herald June 18 /2021
