KUCFAW wins Breaking Through Award for organizing success at Carrefour Kenya

The Kenya Union of Commercial, Food and Allied Workers (KUCFAW) has been awarded UNI Global Union’s Breaking Through Award in recognition of its exceptional organizing success at Carrefour supermarkets.

The union has recruited 1,260 new members in less than a year across 24 Carrefour stores in Kenya. It means KUCFAW has now exceeded the necessary 51 per cent of a total 2,325 organizable employees to reach a recognition agreement with the company.

Boniface Kavuvi, General Secretary of KUCFAW, expressed pride in the union’s achievement:

“I dedicate this award to the organizers who have done incredible work recruiting new members, and to the remarkable shop stewards who have risked their own jobs in advocating for the union.”

Kavuvi received his award in person from UNI President Gerard Dwyer and UNI General Secretary, Christy Hoffman, at UNI’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on 13 November.

He credited UNI Africa and Finnish union donor organization, SASK, for their key role in supporting KUCFAW’s organizing strategy. Union organizers have been better able to reach out to workers through their assistance with training on organizing, collective bargaining and gender equality. In just one week in May this year, the union recruited 500 new members.

Furthermore, while previous attempts to organize at Carrefour were met with resistance, UNI’s global agreement with the company has helped the union gain unprecedented access to engage with workers on site.

“The working relationship with management has been positive and we are hoping to sign our recognition agreement with Carrefour before the end of the month. From there it will pave the way for negotiating a collective agreement with the company,” revealed Kavuvi.

He added that he will be happy to follow in the footsteps of fellow UNI affiliate, HTS Union, which secured its first collective agreement with Carrefour last year.

Keith Jacobs, UNI Africa Regional Secretary, praised KUCFAW’s win:

“Reaching a majority membership threshold is no small feat – it reflects a mammoth effort that will lead to concrete improvements in the lives of Carrefour workers. This award celebrates the hard work, determination and courage of KUCFAW’s organizers and shop stewards – and the power of global solidarity. This marks the beginning of a stronger voice for workers at Carrefour in Kenya.”