A Union Of A Different Sort ...

Yesterday, at the airport in Johannesburg, just before my flight to Blyantyre, I made a new friend, John Obongo Mwafulirwa.  

John spent his life growing up and working in Malawi.  

He is a proud father of four children.  This is "wealth" in Malawi, to have a big, healthy family. 

He spent his career in construction in Blantyre and other small cities.  He now serves as the General Secretary of Malawi's Building Construction Civil Engineering and Allied Workers Union.  

Flying to Johannesburg, where we met, was a big, big venture for John.  He had just completed a conference with union leaders from other countries all over Africa.  No surprise, the primary theme of this meeting was "how to enhance wages for union workers."  

Within a few seconds of introducing myself, John reached out his hand to share an embrace.  Throughout our conversation, he expressed laughter and a sense of warm positive, openness.  This is quite common here in southern Africa.

I had many questions.  John had much to share. 

It turns out, John represents about 8,000 workers in labor negotiations with government and private businesses.  He also manages training and education for this community of construction workers.  

We spoke about the reality of unions in Malawi - how hard it is to protect worker's rights and ensure "decent, living wages" when there are millions and millions of people waiting for employment of any kind, at any price.

Eighty five percent of the work force survives through simple, subsistence farming.

In Malawi, there is no formal pension system (a small number of private businesses offer very limited retirement support), there is no social security from the government, and there is no unemployment insurance or training available for almost all unemployed workers from any source.  Bank accounts are primarily in place for a small portion of the population - relatively wealthy individuals who live in the cities.

If you don't have work, you are on your own - survive or perish is the fundamental value. 

John smiled broadly and laughed out loud when I told him about some of the benefits many U.S. corporations and the U.S. government provide.  

Then, we spoke about wages.  

In Malawi, John's union pushed hard through may years for government sponsored commitments to hold wages at a minimum level.

He feels his union achieved powerful milestones.

The current law?  

An employer in Malawi is required to pay at least 129 "Kwacha" for an eight hour day of work. 

Here's a dose of Malawian reality.  This government mandated daily wage translates to about eighty five cents in US currency (150 Kwacha equals about $1 U.S.)!  

Of course, many employers who wish to establish loyalty and a stable staff pay much more, sometimes up to 200 or 250 Kwacha a day.  

This elevates pay up to roughly $1.30 to $1.65 for an eight hour day - a good salary here in Malawi. 

To become a successful, well employed construction worker, one might attend technical school for three to four years, work as an apprentice for several years, and then go on to make full construction wages when employed as a professional member of the union.   

Imagine working in the hot sun all day, five days a week, fifty weeks a year for about $300 in annual pay - a tough haul.  

You may wonder how the union supports its own operation.  

Each union member pays 1% of their salary in union fees.  

It would be interesting to contemplate that level of contribution as a policy for America's unions.  

It was great to hear John's perspective on the future.  

He is encouraged and hopeful - a reminder that joy and happiness have more to do with expectation and perspective than individual life circumstances.