• By Gilbert Kateera

I recently had the privilege of joining a powerful third activist training session hosted by the Pan-African Workers Association (PAWA) in the heart of Wales. Led by the inspiring Sekai and seasoned organiser Jamie Woodcock, the weekend was nothing short of transformative.

The training was focused on empowering a new generation of confident and skilled workplace activists. We spent the day diving into the fundamentals of what a union is, why they are vital to worker power, and how collective action can improve conditions on the job.

A key part of the day was a practical exercise where we were each tasked with identifying a real issue in our workplace that we would like to change.

From there we worked through a three-step campaign-building process:

l Choose an issue – and explain why it matters: We began by identifying the root causes of the problems we face at work from unpaid training and travelling time to low wages. We discussed how to focus on issues that are widely felt, deeply felt, and affecting our well-being.

l Choose a tactic and a decision-maker – and explain why: We then looked at who holds the power to make change and what action could pressure them. Whether it was petitions, utilising media spaces, collective meetings, or public demonstrations, we thought strategically about how to make our voices heard and demands impossible to ignore.

l Build a plan – and define what winning looks like. Finally we mapped out what a successful campaign would look like in practical terms: setting goals, timelines, and benchmarks. We discussed what meaningful victory would mean, not just for us individually but for all workers in our workplaces.

One particularly powerful moment during the training was when we watched the documentary, Union Time: Fighting for Workers’ Rights. The film tells the story of American workers at a meat processing plant who faced enormous resistance and
challenges, came together to form a union and demand better conditions. Watching their journey served as a reminder that even in the toughest conditions collective action makes change possible.

To wrap up the day we had the opportunity to bond as a group with a short teambuilding outing taking in the natural beauty of the Welsh coast and spending time together outside the training room. These shared moments deepened our solidarity and helped forge connections that will strengthen our future organizing efforts.

Huge thanks to Jamie and Sekai for their facilitating and everyone who made the day impactful. We learned a lot, made connections and left equipped with the skills to stand
up for workers together.