Some recent reportage on south africa has noticed an american influence in the black consciousness movement there. Through the turbulent years of 19481991 trade unions played an important part in developing political and economic resistance, and eventually were one of the. Key issuessuch as internal union and parliamentary democracy, black empowerment, and the. The chapter first provides a historical overview of the south african trade union movement before and after the apartheid, followed by a brief discussion of the labor market legislation and institutions formed since 1994. Bata shoe workers in kwazulu, members of nutw, strike. Figures seemed to prove them right ebbinghaus and visser 1999. After its launch in 1985, cosatu became an important ally to the udf, linking unions from all over south africa through the core principle of fair working conditions in a democrati. Maree, j 1993 trade unions and corporatism in south africa, in transformation 21.
Aggett had joined the trade union movement in the sixties and fought for the rights of black workers to be placed with companysupported medical aid schemes and enjoy other democratic rights. The federation of south african trade unions south african. Trade unions played an important role in south africas transition from apartheid in 1994 and continue to play a very public role in the south african economy. The university of the witwatersrand the role of trade. South african trade unions and employers organisations the tripartite relationship 193 south african trade unions 196 the trade union movement at the beginning of the 1980s 196 the overall position 196.
Prior to the arrival of european settlers in the 15th century the economy of what was to become south africa was dominated by subsistence agriculture and hunting in the north, central and east of the country tribes of bantu peoples occupied land on a communal basis under tribal chiefdoms. Sabinet factors that have an impact on the future of. Many trade unions currently operating in south africa can trace their roots back to the establishment of advice bureaus for workers in durban, cape town and johannesburg between 197072, the period which marked the start of the fourth phase of black trade unionism in. Trade unions and the law is endorsed by cosatu as the ideal reference for union officials, representatives and their legal advisors. The role of women in the south african trade union movement. The objective of the study was to reflect on the viewpoints of south african trade union leaders on factors influencing the future of trade unions as organisations. As an organized movement, trade unionism also called organized labour originated in the 19th century in great. From the beginning unions could be viewed as a reflection of the racial disunity of the. Trade unions, however, stood out among the other institutions, showing a far more significant fall in confidence. Since the political amalgamation of nigeria in 1914, labour unions have played increasingly powerful role in the formulation, shaping and implementation of public programmes.
The south african congress of trade unions sactu, formed in the early 1950s. A number of strikes were held particularly in natal in 1973 and between 1973 and 1975 many new trade unions were formed. Fedusa federation of trade unions of south africa fes friedrich albert stiftung. In particular, it established the congress of noneuropean trade unions cnetu which claimed a membership of 158,000 workers in 119 affiliated trade unions by 1945. The national party sympathised with nazi germany during the war, and after the war wanted greater racial segregation. The flag of republic of south africa was adopted on 27 april 1994. In 2011 43% of south africans indicated that they trusted trade unions, falling to 29% in 2012, with 40% reporting that they distrusted trade unions and 31% remaining neutral.
The difference in the postwar years, under successive national party prime ministers malan 194854, strijdom 195458, verwoerd 195866, vorster 196678. Although trade unions have had a presence in the country since the 1880s, they were initially only for white workers. It can be argued today that trade unions are more necessary than ever. Carefully analyzing the changes that characterize workers political orientations, this study considers the results of a survey of the political attitudes of members of the congress of south african trade unions cosatu undertaken prior to south africas third democratic general election in 2004. Congress of south african trade unions 1994 2014 south. Modern human settlement occurred around 125,000 years ago in the middle stone age, as shown by. Navin kumar koodamara 2016 in his study, the changing role and perspective of trade unions in india attempted to understand various factors with negative growth factor of the trade union and. Possible trade union responses to labour market challenges 20 1. Lastly, it gives an exposition of some of the challenges faced by trade unions in postapartheid south africa. Based on the findings of a survey of the congress of south african trade unions cosatu members conducted in 1998, wood and psoulis 2001 found high levels of. Trade union policies and practices 199 developments during the 1980s. Labour unions and the transformation of the nigerian civil.
The congress of south african trade unions cosatu is the largest of the three major trade union centres, with a membership of 1. Other articles where national council of trade unions is discussed. It has resulted in changes in employment practices and has inspired the belief that unionism and wider political trends are indivisible. Nov 08, 2012 so the battle, from all sides, is about the type of union organisation that should exist and what role the unions should play. Scientists researching the periods before written historical records were made have established that the territory of what is now referred to generically as south africa was one of the important centers of human evolution.
The communist party of south africa cpsa played an important role in building the trade union movement in the 1940s. Electrical and allied workers trade union of south africa. The anc allies with the transvaal indian congress and the natal indian congress 1946. Trade unions in south africa have a history dating back to the 1880s. There is a detailed evaluation of the impact of trade unions and wage legislation on labor market outcomes in south africa. The demand for trade unions in the 1930s and 1940s saha. Congress of trade unions to publish this trade union guide for south african workers, written by mr. Trade unions and the law in south africa lexisnexis sa. Women are allowed to become full members of the anc 1943. Trade union services and benefits in africa edited by. The core foundation of collective bargaining legislation in south africa was the industrial. It was inhabited by australopithecines since at least 2.
Steven friedman, in his book building tomorrow today. I, marie uys, hereby declare that factors influencing the future of trade unions as organisations in south africa is my own work and that the observations, views and opinions expressed in this study are those of the author and the relevant literature references as shown in the references. It covers the full spectrum of tradeunion activity and aims to help trade unions operate legally in dealing with. Posted on april 6, 2016 in governance, hot news as the south african government continues with its ongoing retirement reform process, the countrys largest trade union federation, cosatu, remains extremely vocal in its disapproval of certain elements, vowing to implement strike action to protect. The first tradition was from shop floor unions, they developed a.
Factors influencing the future existence of trade unions in. Apr 11, 2019 the politicking behind the scenes for the formation of the union of south africa allowed the foundations of apartheid to be laid. Trade unions and the need for transformation terry bell. Hepple has waged many a doughty battle on behalf of workers and voteless nonwhites. The south african democratic teachers union sadtu is the largest trade union for teachers in south africa. Trade unions global crisis education international. South africa trade unions flags, maps, economy, history, climate. Sabinet factors that have an impact on the future of trade. Trade unions are found to have had an increasingly positive effect on members wages, although it appears that. Saldru, level 3, school of economic building, middle campus, university of cape town, rondebosch, 7700. Congress of south african trade unions cosatu are instructive in this regard. Black opposition was inevitable, and the african national congress anc was founded in 1912 to protest the exclusion of black people from power. At the end of the 20 th and the beginning of the 21 st century labour scholars constantly pointed out the decline of trade unions in europe which appeared to be irreversible.
On may 31, 1910, the union of south africa was formed under british dominion. Excluded blacks from membership of registered trade unions and prohibited registration of black trade unions. Union density rates were steadily decreasing in nearly all european countries visser 2015. Trade union movements though primarily workercentric have assumed a centre stage at finetuning the major. Cosatu has been involved in the liberation of the country and has fought for the interest of the marginalised working. This article deliberates the current state of trade unionism in south africa. To understand why industrial relations is such a heated, divisive issue in south africa, its useful to look at the historical relationship between the man on the street, trade unions and big business. Trade unions are found to have had an increasingly positive effect on members wages, although it appears that this increase has resulted in part from changes in the. Apr 24, 2009 trade unions and the law is endorsed by cosatu as the ideal reference for union officials, representatives and their legal advisors. As a result, the labour market was characterized by a strong racial division of labour that would persist for decades to come. The close links between liberation and labour movements in parts of southern africa are still visible today particularly in those countries that attained their independence in recent years, like namibia and south africa. South africa in the 1970s south african history online.
Saha south african history archive the demand for trade. Oct 08, 2012 many trade unions currently operating in south africa can trace their roots back to the establishment of advice bureaus for workers in durban, cape town and johannesburg between 1970 72, the period which marked the start of the fourth phase of black trade unionism in south africa jones, 1985a. Yet much of the labour movement internationally is in a state of flux or stagnation and. Trade union, also called labour union, association of workers in a particular trade, industry, or company created for the purpose of securing improvements in pay, benefits, working conditions, or social and political status through collective bargaining historical development. For the first time in the history of south africa, women had to carry passes. Trade unions and the workers they represented were key players in the udf. It is in the shadow of the above concerns that this report engages trade union strategy in south africa today. Along with business, the other barrow pushers range from the south african communist party sacp to various trade union and political leaders as well as groups professing different socialist orientations. Formation of cosatu congress of south african trade unions 21 feb 1985. Union members did no longer represent the average workers, as. The role and challenges of trade unions in postapartheid. This is what inspired the researcher to conduct a study in order to examine the role and challenges of trade unions in postapartheid south.
The federation came into being after the south african congress of trade unions sactu and federation of free african trade unions ffatu disintegrated in the 1960s. It is allied to the african national congress and is an affiliate of the congress of south african trade unions cosatu. In south africa trade unions played a very important role to dismantle apartheid. In 1990, the congress of south african trade unions cosatu, african national congress anc and the south african communist party sacp formed an alliance. The national party split from the united party after the union of south africa entered the second world war as britains ally.
The afrikaans word apartheid apartness is much in evidence after 1948 as a central plank of south african government policy, but it is only another word for the segregation of the races already promoted by hertzog and accepted by smuts. In 1970s, the first modern trade union movement was established in south africa. In the 1960s the countrys industrial economy had matured and by the 1970s black workers were becoming increasingly restless about exploitative working conditions. Today trade unions are still an important force in south africa, with 3. The first is the relationship of the tuc to the divided south african trade union. The number of strikes, working days lost and number of workers involved in strike in south africa fluctuated over the past decade, from 2005 to 2015 with an annual average of 85 strike incidents. I assumed you mean the historical development of trade unions since 1970 in south africa.
Factors influencing the future existence of trade unions. The aim of the federation of south african trade unions fosatu was to be a national umbrella organisation that could coordinate the movements of black trade unions. Third, most unions were traditionally founded, at least in industrialized countries, on what is commonly termed the future of unions. In 1910, the union of south africa was created out of the cape, natal, transvaal and free state. India severs trade relationships with the union of south africa, in protest against its discriminatory treatment of people with an asian origin 1944. However, since 1994 a series of questions that relate to their role in democratic south africa have remained unanswered. Jun 11, 2017 the congress of south african trade unions cosatu, formed 1985, claiming around 1. Firstly, it considers the outcomes of research that was conducted in 2011. The congress of south african trade unions cosatu, formed 1985, claiming around 1. Trade unions in an emerging economy the case of south africa.
Ways in which south african trade unions have intervened in the labour market 22 chapter two. The report asks, looking at the trade union strategy in and of itself, what accounts for the decline in worker control, the loss of the battle to defend gains such as jobs and high. The south african trade union movement represents a source of inspiration to organized labour worldwide, but has faced many challenges over the years. My assumption was based on the fact that some of the questions you asked on brainly were mostly centered on south africa. The south african trade union movement is in a state of transition. A listing of notable historical events in south africa since 1948. It covers the full spectrum of trade union activity and aims to help trade unions operate legally in dealing with strikes, dismissals, discipline and even insolvent companies.
Carefully analyzing the changes that characterize workers political orientations, this study considers the results of a survey of the political attitudes of members of the congress of south african trade unions cosatu undertaken prior to south africa s third democratic general election in 2004. The challenges facing the south african labour movement. This provision resulted in a widespread strike by women in 1956. Organizations which were referred to as advice centres grew and these centres evolved into trade unions, which led to a series of strikes in 1973 in durban. The alliance was formed after an agreement was reached to work together as revolutionary alliance tripartite alliance. Natal thread strike first ever legal strike in south africa since the wiehahn reforms, by 300 nutw workers.
The politicking behind the scenes for the formation of the union of south africa allowed the foundations of apartheid to be laid. An empirical study was conducted with a purposive, voluntary nonprobability. Archibald crawford the class war in south africa, 19111. From the beginning unions could be viewed as a reflection of the racial disunity of the country, with the earliest unions being predominantly for white workers. The federation of south african trade unions south. The trades union congress and apartheid, 19481970 jstor. May 24, 2017 while the specific reasons for this gradual decline of trade unions in europe may vary from country to country, labour scholars put forward some general explanations. Apartheid legislation 1850s1970s south african history. The history of trade unions and its impact on todays. The history of the south african congress of trade unions london, lawrence and. Raman press, johannesburg, selected articles on reserve maree, j. In some respects, the history of the south african labor movement has a complexity and. Congress of south african trade unions cosatu, was the single most powerful organised. The essays here, by trade unionists and academics from around the world, explore the state of labour in brazil, china, nepal, south africa, turkey, europe and north america.
Trade unions and the need for transformation terry bell writes. The south african government enforces every black man to carry this document, before he is allowed to move around the country and work. Current labour market challenges facing trade unions 16 1. It replaced the flag that had been used since 1928, and was chosen to represent multiculturalism and ethnic diversity in the countrys new, postapartheid democratic society. During the 1970s, however, the government recognized the need to exert.
955 358 242 708 632 1384 565 1054 452 863 1366 1230 1417 922 824 1179 212 663 911 1148 1187 992 275 1254 769 63 302 899 488 1006 43 468 353 171 377 887 455