The experience of SYNDICOOP in Africa: a model for trade union action? created by Stirling Smith

SYNDICOOP was a project which operated in Africa from 2002 to 2006, aimed at improving the working and living conditions of unprotected informal economy workers through collaboration of trade unions and cooperatives. The project covered Rwanda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. An attempt to extend the project to South Africa was unsuccessful. SYNDICOOP is of interest as a rare example of a structured and deliberate collaboration between the trade union and cooperative movements. This paper will provide a narrative of SYNDICOOP, attempt to draw up a balance sheet of its achievements, consider why the project did not take off in South Africa, and why it has not been replicated since 2006. Finally, this paper will reflect on what lessons the SYNDICOOP experience may have for wider issues of the trade union and cooperative relationship. This paper will not consider other examples of trade union–cooperative joint action although these do exist.