July 7th, 2018

On this day, five years ago workers converged at the Salesian sports ground to endorse the formation of an amalgamated union in an endeavor to consolidate and maximize workers power and influence in the private sector. The Amalgamated Trade Union of Swaziland as was christened on the 07th of July 2013, went on to have its first Congress on the 07th of September 2013.

Our formation anniversary comes at a time when our union is celebrating a decisive victory against some individuals and or a group of individuals, hell-bent on dividing workers of our beautiful country at industry level and national level. We know that the overarching intention is to weaken and later destroy the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), recognizing that a very strong and vibrant ATUSWA will positively transform TUCOSWA. We are encouraged that most, within the trade union movement in particular and civil society in general stood with us when some chose to put us on the altar of judgement during our dark moments.

Despite all the challenges we have faced in 2017/2018, it gives us collective satisfaction that we have stood together ;stood tall, fought for workers’ rights and continued to fulfilling our obligations as a workers union.

On this day, we wish to applaud the members of the union for standing firm behind their union during the most trying times. Even those who were almost deceived by the surrogates of division, we say, they still have a place in our union and we say “ATUSWA is not just a union but a family”.

To the owners of the union (Shop stewards) we say let us sharpen our pencils as we prepare for the National Shop Stewards training which shall be held from the 3rd – 4th August 2018, and this is a clear sign that a new dawn has come. We are confident that after the in depth training on union policies and labour law, we would have a war of shop stewards ready to defend ATUSWA.

We trust that our international allies will continue to stand with us, the same way they stood with us when it was really hard to stand with us amid the lies that were perpetuated against our organization.

Issued by

Wonder Mkhonza
Secretary General