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Nicaragua: organisational advance and development of own account workers
By the National Workers Front (FNT)
Since the 2nd May 2002, after the celebration activities for May Day, International Workers’ Day, the National Workers Front (FNT) identified the work of organising the independent workers’ sector (informal sector) as a priority. The self-employed are at robots, bus stops and markets, trading. They are money changers, lottery, cellphone vendors, ice cream vendors, car washers, interurban transport conductors, cobblers, motor-cycle taxi and tricycle operators.
Organisational strategy
To achieve this priority set by the FNT, an organisational strategy was defined, based on two components. The first one centred on the promotion, organisation, training, legalisation and institutionalisation of trade unions while the second focussed on the struggle for the stabilisation of jobs in the work place, improvement of sanitation, eradication of child labour, reversal of social disintegration and institutional recognition from the central government, local government, government institutions and society in general.
Strategy support pillars
The organisational strategy is supported by four principal pillars, namely: the fight against poverty, the improvement of self-esteem, gender equality, and the promotion of the participation of self-employed workers in dialogue on policies for socio-economic development in the country.
There are now:
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42 organised unions
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8 registered unions
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24 unions in the process of being registered
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16,917 affiliated workers.
Strategic projects
On the 1st of July 2004, “The Co-operative for Multiple Services New Life R.L” (La Cooperativa de Servicios Múltiples Nueva Vida R. L ), was established with 27 founding members. An economic viability study to determine the economic and social situation of self-employed workers was concluded in June, facilitating the provision of credit facilities to organised workers by the Co-operative.
Between June and September 2003, an economic viability study was done for the establishment of the Urban Mutua de Salud (Urban Health Fund). The objective of the fund is to treat common illnesses of self-employed workers and their families. In December 2003, the process of administrative and financial organisation and affiliation of their first 518 members was begun.
Progressive eradication of child labour
In the third term of 2003, a survey was carried out amongst 53 boys and girls who sell at robots and bus stops in the city of Managua, to gain some knowledge about the condition of their lives. Subsequently, a meeting with the parents was arranged, and we were able to assess the lack of resources available to send their children to school. With help from CNEPTI and the ILO, we arranged to send the 53 children to school for the 2004 school year.
In August 2004, a social investigation amongst 494 boys and girls, who are street vendors, was concluded. These results were the basis for a pilot project consisting of four phases. The first phase, a programme of social mobilisation for the prevention and eradication of child labour, has the financial support of the ILO.
Training and education
During 2003, 158 leaders were trained in subjects including: history of trade unions, local government, law, human relations, sales techniques, marketing and introduction to the study of markets, leadership, organisational processes, mobilisation and union negotiation.
Between January to September 2004, we trained 340 members in study circles, 163 in basic courses and 45 in special courses, with a total of 546 leaders and workers being trained. Currently, we have five workers with bursaries studying professional careers at UNAN Managua, and six workers who recently completed technical studies in computers.
The Womens' Committee for the Self-employed Workers’ Sector, consisting of more than 6 000 women workers, was launched on 30th of May 2004.
Protest against eviction
On the 9th of June 2004, the National Co-ordinator for the Self-employed Workers’ Sector called a press conference to announce a demonstration scheduled to take place on the 10th of June and to let people know the matters to be discussed with the Mayor of Managua, Architect Herly Lewites. The next day, the first march by the Self-employed Workers Sector, from CIPRES to the Municipality of Managua, took place as a protest against the eviction of workers from the Metro Central stop on the 4th of June 2004. Two and half thousand workers took part in this march, but were not met by the competent authorities.
The municipal authorities of Managua refused to look for a negotiated solution. This caused a series of denunciations on the violation of workers’ rights to the media by the national self-employed workers’ leadership. On 12th of June, we took advantage of a meeting of the Municipal Council to draw public attention to the evictions and to force the Mayor Herty Lewites to meet with the sector. Agreements were signed on 18 June and came into force the same day. To put the agreements signed with the Mayor into operation, a time-table for meetings with the delegates from the different districts of the Municipality of Managua was drawn up.
On the 15th August, the First National Congress took place and the second anniversary of the Foundation of Union Organisation for Self-employed Workers was celebrated.
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