Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has been reelected for a record fourth time as Vice President of the International Trade Union (ITUC).
Atwoli was voted in during the ongoing ITUC 5th congress in Melbourne, Australia.
The reelection reaffirms Atwoli’s place as one of the most powerful trade unionists in the world.
ITUC is the largest trade union boasting of over 200 million members spread in 163 countries and headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.
Atwoli was reelected as vice president unanimously by 2000 ITUC delegates attending the congress, which turned to be Atwoli’s second victory in just a week.
Earlier, the delegates had elected Atwoli unopposed to the Seven-Member Credentials Committee. This is one of the most powerful committees in the union as it determines who qualifies as a delegate of the ITUC.
“You are sending me to war, to fight for working men and women in every part of the world and I will never let you down,” Atwoli vowed during his victory speech.
“I am just a soldier and all what I do will always come from you because you are the true commanders,” he told the delegates.
Atwoli, 73, who had earlier indicated that this would be his last term at international stage boasts of several high-profile positions.
The ITUC vice president has held a position in Board of Trustees at the National Social Security Fund (Kenya) (NSSF) since 2001 to date.
He has been Member of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization, (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland since 2008.
The outspoken unionist is also the Secretary General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions, Kenya, (COTU (K).
Atwoli was first elected COTU Secretary General in Kenya in 2001.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE