There are so many reasons why you should belong to CSAWUZ. Many of the rights we enjoy at work today have been won because of the union’s work.
Unity is Strength: CSAWUZ provides workers with a powerful, collective voice to communicate to the Government, Management the dissatisfaction and frustration of workers.
Economic reasons: CSAWUZ works for higher salary/wages and improved working conditions. All aspects of working life are subject to discussion, negotiations and agreement between employers and employees under the protection of CSAWUZ Trained and experienced representatives.
Better job security: CSAWUZ members are more likely to stay in their jobs longer because they will be effectively and efficiently represented. By being a CSWAUZ member, you are always part of something bigger and have the support of the great union when you need it. CSAWUZ fights for equal opportunities in the workplace. CSAWUZ stand for equal pay for equal work and against any form of discrimination at the workplace.
Legal Services and advice: CSAWUZ offer legal services and advice. Any employee who has been treated illegally or unfairly at work no longer has to pay to take their employers to court. CSAWUZ offer legal services and advice for free to its members.
Recognition by the Employer: Many employees have found that the CSAWUZ structures offer them an opportunity to gain recognition that was not available to them in the workplace. Many employees with humble education and positions have been given an opportunity to be elected to positions of influence, which have made them gain recognition from the employer.
Enhanced Member Participation: Many workers explain their CSAWUZ membership in terms of their desire to obtain a voice in decisions that affect them in their working environment. To other workers who feel lost in our large, complex, industrial society, the CSAWUZ is their last hope that will be able to help influence their destiny. CSAWUZ structures give workers great room and opportunity to participate in the union.
Education Assistance: CSAWUZ provides education assistance to its members on request to the General Secretary. Education Assistance is financial aid given to members of CSAWUZ to further their education. Education Assistance provides an opportunity for many members of CSAWUZ to earn an education.
General Assistance: CSAWUZ provides general assistance to its members at the request of the General Secretary. General Assistance is financial aid given to members of CSAWUZ to address any other problems that the members are faced with.
The Civil Servants and Allied Workers of Zambia (CSAWZ) Savings and Credit Cooperate Society (SACCOS) Limited: As a way of promoting the principle of saving among the members, CSAWUZ has created the Civil Servants and Allied Workers (CSAWUZ) Savings and Credit Cooperate Society (SACCOS) Limited. The idea behind SACCOS is to reverse the trend of members being perpetual borrowers which have made most public service workers be slaves to banks and micro-lending institutions. An employee who joins the SACCOS becomes a shareholder and owner of the SACCOS whose rewards are through dividends on shares and will be required to make savings for a minimum of six (6) months after which he or she is entitled to borrow three times the savings at the interest rates of two (2) per cent per month. Membership to the SACCOS is open to every worker and NOT restricted to Union members only.
The SACCOS is a financial institution that is owned and controlled by the members, according to democratic principles. It was created for the purpose of encouraging savings and using pooled funds to make loans to its members at reasonable interest rates and providing related financial services to enable members to improve their economic and social conditions.
Workers Education: CSAWUZ provides to its member’s Workers’ Education, which is a basic instrument or tool for building an effective, sound and responsible labour movement. The basic purpose of Workers’ education is to develop the workers’ understanding of “Labour Problems” in the broadest sense. Members are given opportunities to learn on many labour matters. The union provides Workers’ Education in order to build a skilled Union cadre that will manage the affairs of the Union efficiently and effectively.
Grievance Handling: CSAWUZ works to ensure that aggrieved members are accorded a fair and objective Grievance Handling Procedure. CSAWUZ works to ensure that both the employer and the employees adhere to a systematic and legitimate avenue to address grievances. CSAWUZ works to ensure that there is a safe working environment where employees can seek redress in a specified manner, without fear of repercussions.
What is the contribution rate to the Union?
Union subscription is two per cent (2%) of a member’s monthly basic salary or such other sum as determined by a resolution of the Quadrennial Conference or Biennial Conference.
Who are our members?
Membership is open to all civil servants and allied workers employed in the Zambian Public Service and grant-aided institutions and employees of government departments turned parastatal bodies and organizations, Boards, Authorities, Agencies and Non-governmental organizations as specified in the Recognition Agreement between the Union and the employer.
CSAWUZ also draws the membership from Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), the National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC), Occupational Health and Safety Institute (OHSI) and Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD).
The Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ) is an affiliate of the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), the Federation of Southern Africa Public Sector Trade Unions (FSAPSTU) and the Public Service International (PSI).
CSAWUZ strategic focus:
- replacing top-down union decision-making structures that have alienated workers with more democratic processes that give workers a greater say in workplace bargaining arrangements;
- placing a greater emphasis on recruiting new members (external organising);
- facilitating effective workplace activism and organisation so that workers are empowered to undertake activities on their own behalf, rather than simply relying on elected union officials (internal organising);
- ensuring that workplace activists have the skills and resources to manage their own affairs; and
- establishing networks that will link activists in different workplaces.