ILO-COTU Workshop On Collective Bargaining At Tom Mboya Labour College

International Labour Organization (ILO) and Central Organization of Trade Unions – Kenya{ COTU (K)} Organised a workshop to train representatives affiliate members of COTU (K) on Collective Burgaining. Freedom of association and collective bargaining are basic rights of workers and employers that are enshrined in the International Labour Standards of the ILO, especially in Conventions no. 87 (1948) and no. 98 (1949).They ensure that workers and employers can associate to effectively negotiate to improve upon working conditions and working relations as well as to prevent costly labour disputes.

The skills knowledge and capacity of those negotiating on behalf of employers and workers organization in collective bargaining are critical in preventing labour dispute and achieving outcomes and agreement that meet the interests of the parties involved. The effectiveness of the collective bargaining process is often hampered by poor negotiating skills of the bargaining parties. They may adopt a negotiation style that does not allow them to reach satisfactory outcomes.

Effective negotiations skills and knowledge are acquired through a combination of training and experience.

The workshop on collective bargaining was to develop participants’ knowledge and understanding of consensus building approach. Emphasis was made on how to move from traditional negotiation style of adversarial negotiations, to a negotiation style that allows for mutual gains and strengthens relationship between the bargaining parties of employers and workers association

The workshop that took place at Tom Mboya Labour College, Kisumu, Kenya drew 26 trade union leaders with experience in collective bargaining were drawn from Central Organization of Trade Union-Kenya and its affiliates.