Trade unions in Togo first emerged under French colonial rule in the 1930s and 1940s. In the 1950s, unions separated from French structures as autonomous organisations. Following independence in 1960 there remained a pluralistic environment, however, with the military coup of

Gnassingbé Eyadéma Gnassingbé Eyadéma (; born Étienne Gnassingbé, 26 December 1935 – 5 February 2005) was the president of Togo from 1967 until his death in 2005, after which he was immediately succeeded by his son, Faure Gnassingbé. Eyadéma participated i ...

in 1968, all trade unions were dissolved into a single union under state control. This situation remained until the early 1990s when trade union plurality returned.

Origins and autonomy

Limited trade union rights were granted in French West Africa in 1937 following the election victory of the

Popular Front A popular front is "any coalition of working-class and middle-class parties", including liberal and social democratic ones, "united for the defense of democratic forms" against "a presumed Fascist assault". More generally, it is "a coalition ...

government in 1936. The General Confederation of Labour (CGT) was the first French trade union to engage in organising activities in West Africa, but these were halted due to the outbreak of World War II and the banning of trade unions during the

Vichy Regime Vichy France (french: Régime de Vichy; 10 July 1940 – 9 August 1944), officially the French State ('), was the fascist French state headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II. Officially independent, but with half of its ter ...

. Following the end of the War, the CGT created sections for West Africa, with a section for Togo established in 1946.

Independence and suppression

From the early 1970s independent trade unionism was banned in Togo. In 1972 and 1973, the existing trade unions were dissolved into the CNTT and placed under government control. The Eyadéma regime banned strikes, gaoled union leaders, and replaced them with sycophants. In 1980, the CNTT was incorporated into the ruling party (the

Rally of the Togolese People The Rally of the Togolese People (french: Rassemblement du Peuple Togolais, RPT) was the ruling political party in Togo from 1969 to 2012. It was founded by President Gnassingbé Eyadéma and headed by his son, President Faure Gnassingbé, after ...

References

Trade unions in Togo {{Togo-stub