| Two brave union leaders from Swaziland received the 2015 AFL-CIO George Meany-Lane Kirkland Award last night for standing firm in the face of a repressive regime that has attacked the freedom to form unions, peacefully gather and publicly speak out. Vincent Ncongwane, TUCOSWA secretary general (center), and Patrick Mamba (left), TUCOSWA treasurer general, traveled to Washington, D.C., for the ceremony, accepting the award from AFL-CIO Executive Vice-President Tefere Gebre (right). "Your courage, brothers, is contagious," said Metro Washington Council President Jos Williams in his introduction of the two men. Williams participated in a global trade union delegation to Swaziland in May and noted that the country continues to imprison activists for exercising their right to freedom of speech and are facing harsh conditions depriving them of their most fundamental rights. "As we join with unions from around the world to continue to support your actions and shine a light on your struggle, we continue to be inspired by your relentless pursuit of justice," Williams added. See more at the Solidarity Center. photo: photo by Jay Mallin/AFL-CIO | |