Francis Atwoli Re-Elected as Deputy President of Commonwealth Trade Union Group

Veteran trade unionist Francis Atwoli has secured a second term as Deputy President of the Commonwealth Trade Union Group (CTUG), following a unanimous vote by representatives from all 40 member countries.

Atwoli, who also serves as Secretary General of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU-K), made the announcement on Monday via his official X account, expressing gratitude and reaffirming his commitment to global labour advocacy.

“I am deeply honoured and humbled to have been unanimously re-elected… as the Deputy President of the Commonwealth Trade Union Group,” Atwoli said.

He will now continue deputising CTUG’s newly elected President Toni Moore of Barbados. The CTUG, which operates under the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in Brussels, represents over 70 million workers across the Commonwealth.

Atwoli first took up the position in June 2023. Since then, he has played a key role in pushing for workers’ rights, social justice, and equitable labour systems at the international level.

“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to my sister and comrade, Ms. Toni Moore… I look forward to continuing our work together in building stronger, fairer, and more inclusive labour systems across the Commonwealth,” he added.

The announcement comes amid strong backing from COTU’s board, which last month unanimously endorsed Atwoli for a sixth term as Secretary General in the upcoming elections scheduled for next year.

“There are people eyeing COTU leadership who are not even members of any trade union,” the board said during a press briefing on April 29. “We’ve already endorsed Atwoli — we don’t have any other candidate.”

Atwoli has led COTU since 2001, representing the interests of over two million Kenyan workers and maintaining a firm grip on labour politics in the country.

With his re-election to CTUG leadership, Atwoli is expected to continue influencing policy on a global scale while reinforcing Kenya’s presence in international labour affairs.

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Francis Atwoli Re-Elected as Deputy President of Commonwealth Trade Union Group