Gefont

Membership

 OUR MEMBERSHIP

In 5^th National Congress, General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions represented 27 affiliate federations and few local level unions.  The Confederation then had membership of 340,619. After five years the total membership of the Confederation is 3, 87,418 with the increment by 46,799 (13.7%)

1. Industrial Sector Union Council:

Nepal Independent Workers’ Union, Nepal Food and Beverage Workers’ Union and Nepal Independent Chemical- Iron Workers’ Union have unified now through a merger process and established a giant size Whole Industry Trade Union Nepal. The Total membership added together has now further increased by 9.6%. There is high possibility for membership expansion.

2. Garment Carpet and allied sector Union Council:

Nepal Textile Garment Union and Nepal Independent Carpet Workers’ Union have merged to form Jute, Garment, Carpet, and Textile Workers’ Union of Nepal. Jute sector has witnessed an increased membership but the union in overall has 5% membership decline. The basic reason for this decline is the closure of various carpet factories.

 3. Transport and Allied Sector Union Council:

In comparison to last National Congress, membership has rapidly increased in this sector. Nepal Petroleum Workers’ Union, a separate union till 5^th National Congress is now merged in Independent Transport Workers Association of Nepal. Some of the major reasons for substantial increase are – a) expansion of road transport, b) Increased flow of transport workers towards ITWAN and c) re-established link in previously armed conflict affected areas. The membership has increased by 57.3%. Weak union leadership has resulted into the decline of membership of Rickshaw Pullers’ union by 61.3%. Similarly, membership of Nepal Auto mechanics Trade Union has declined by 1.9% 

4. Tourism Sector Union Council:

With the dawn of Peace Process, tourism industry took a new hope for expansion. Nepal Independent Hotel, Casino and Restaurant Workers’ Union has increased its membership by 34%. Similarly, Membership of UNITRAV (including trekking, travel, rafting, and cargo and airlines sector) has increased by 113.6%. Nepal Independent Cargo Courier Union is merged in UNITRAV after UNITRAV started unionizing cargo sector. 

5. Agriculture and Plantation Sector Union Council:

Agriculture and Plantation sector occupies a huge share of informal sector; Membership of FAWN has decreased by 15.8%. Vast scattered nature of the sector and weak unionization is the major cause for this decline. With empowerment of Union leaders, it can be expected to expand membership significantly.  Membership of Nepal Independent Tea Plantation workers’ Union has increased by 7.9%.

6. Education, Communication, Finance and Service Sector Union Council:

Membership of Independent Press Workers’ Union has increased by 15.9%, but membership of Private and Boarding School Employees’ Union has declined by 3.6%. In spite of huge possibility of the union expansion, union’s organizational weaknesses have hindered the potential success. Similarly Courier Cargo Workers’ Union is merged with UNITRAV. GEFONT has delisted Nepal Tax Counselling Workers’ Organization from its list as the union was not active enough to meet the criteria set by the confederation.

7. Non- agriculture Informal Sector Council:

All the affiliate federations under this Council have increased membership. CUPPEC- Nepal in organizing construction and building sector has increased its membership by 11.7%. Expansion of construction sector and expansion of union in new districts have resulted into the increment. Nepal Street Vendor’s Union has 15% membership increase and membership of Nepal Security Workers Trade Union is increased by 30.4%. Major factors contributing to this significant growth are attraction of workers towards these unions and Union expansion in new work sectors/sites. 

8. Urban Informal Sector Union Council:

Nepal Independent Garbage Cleaners Union has insignificant changes. The union mainly organizes workers working in Cleaning Service in Municipalities, but it has not expanded to private sectors. So, it has limited scope at present; Union has to initiate organizing private sector also to increase membership. Affiliates like Nepal Independent Domestic Workers’ Union, Home Based Workers’ Union, Gold and Silver Ornament Workers Trade Union and Thanka artists Trade Union have merged and formed Home Union of Nepal (HUN). Expanding contacts in new worksite has added to the growth of HUN membership by 84.4%  

9. Health Sector Union Council:

Initially, the health sector was organized only through membership in few hospitals without federation. After 5^th National Congress, two unions have been developed and registered namely, Nepal Health Volunteers Union and Nepal Health Workers and Staff union. Internal problems in Nepal Barbers’ Trade Union have affected the union and its membership. The membership has declined by 61.4%. But National Beauticians’ Union of Nepal has increased its membership by 94.3%.