The history of trade unions and its impact on todays. The federation of south african trade unions south african. 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. On may 31, 1910, the union of south africa was formed under british dominion. My assumption was based on the fact that some of the questions you asked on brainly were mostly centered on south africa. Cosatu has been involved in the liberation of the country and has fought for the interest of the marginalised working. A number of strikes were held particularly in natal in 1973 and between 1973 and 1975 many new trade unions were formed. Saha south african history archive the demand for trade. Through the turbulent years of 19481991 trade unions played an important part in developing political and economic resistance, and eventually were one of the. 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. Bata shoe workers in kwazulu, members of nutw, strike.
The trades union congress and apartheid, 19481970 jstor. South africa trade unions flags, maps, economy, history, climate. As a result, the labour market was characterized by a strong racial division of labour that would persist for decades to come. Trade unions in an emerging economy the case of south africa. It was inhabited by australopithecines since at least 2. For the first time in the history of south africa, women had to carry passes. 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. Congress of south african trade unions cosatu, was the single most powerful organised.
During the 1970s, however, the government recognized the need to exert. Congress of trade unions to publish this trade union guide for south african workers, written by mr. 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. Factors influencing the future existence of trade unions in. Labour unions and the transformation of the nigerian civil. In some respects, the history of the south african labor movement has a complexity and. Sabinet factors that have an impact on the future of. Apartheid legislation 1850s1970s south african history. 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. 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. The role of women in the south african trade union movement. Figures seemed to prove them right ebbinghaus and visser 1999. Third, most unions were traditionally founded, at least in industrialized countries, on what is commonly termed the future of unions.
Current labour market challenges facing trade unions 16 1. 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. 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. Steven friedman, in his book building tomorrow today. 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. Trade unions, however, stood out among the other institutions, showing a far more significant fall in confidence. 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. 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. Trade unions and the law in south africa lexisnexis sa.
Natal thread strike first ever legal strike in south africa since the wiehahn reforms, by 300 nutw workers. As an organized movement, trade unionism also called organized labour originated in the 19th century in great. Saldru, level 3, school of economic building, middle campus, university of cape town, rondebosch, 7700. An empirical study was conducted with a purposive, voluntary nonprobability.
The role and challenges of trade unions in postapartheid. From the beginning unions could be viewed as a reflection of the racial disunity of the. It is allied to the african national congress and is an affiliate of the congress of south african trade unions cosatu. The communist party of south africa cpsa played an important role in building the trade union movement in the 1940s. 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. The national party split from the united party after the union of south africa entered the second world war as britains ally. 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 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. Possible trade union responses to labour market challenges 20 1. Other articles where national council of trade unions is discussed. Congress of south african trade unions 1994 2014 south.
In literature, the power shift towards capital as a consequence of neoliberal restructuring since the 1980ies is mentioned as one of the most central reasons for shrinking union power. 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. Trade union services and benefits in africa edited by. The congress of south african trade unions cosatu is the largest of the three major trade union centres, with a membership of 1. Black opposition was inevitable, and the african national congress anc was founded in 1912 to protest the exclusion of black people from power. Modern human settlement occurred around 125,000 years ago in the middle stone age, as shown by. 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. The south african government enforces every black man to carry this document, before he is allowed to move around the country and work. 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. Electrical and allied workers trade union of south africa. South africa in the 1970s south african history online. The flag of republic of south africa was adopted on 27 april 1994. Trade unions global crisis education international. The university of the witwatersrand the role of trade.
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. In 1990, the congress of south african trade unions cosatu, african national congress anc and the south african communist party sacp formed an alliance. In 1970s, the first modern trade union movement was established in south africa. The challenges facing the south african labour movement. It has resulted in changes in employment practices and has inspired the belief that unionism and wider political trends are indivisible. The first is the relationship of the tuc to the divided south african trade union. Maree, j 1993 trade unions and corporatism in south africa, in transformation 21. Ways in which south african trade unions have intervened in the labour market 22 chapter two. 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. 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. There is a detailed evaluation of the impact of trade unions and wage legislation on labor market outcomes in south africa. Lastly, it gives an exposition of some of the challenges faced by trade unions in postapartheid south africa. This provision resulted in a widespread strike by women in 1956. 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 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. 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. Union members did no longer represent the average workers, as. Factors influencing the future existence of trade unions.
Raman press, johannesburg, selected articles on reserve maree, j. Trade unions and the law is endorsed by cosatu as the ideal reference for union officials, representatives and their legal advisors. 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. The difference in the postwar years, under successive national party prime ministers malan 194854, strijdom 195458, verwoerd 195866, vorster 196678. 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. Women are allowed to become full members of the anc 1943. 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. 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. Trade unions in south africa have a history dating back to the 1880s. 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. This is what inspired the researcher to conduct a study in order to examine the role and challenges of trade unions in postapartheid south. India severs trade relationships with the union of south africa, in protest against its discriminatory treatment of people with an asian origin 1944.
Congress of south african trade unions cosatu are instructive in this regard. Hepple has waged many a doughty battle on behalf of workers and voteless nonwhites. Jun 11, 2017 the congress of south african trade unions cosatu, formed 1985, claiming around 1. The south african congress of trade unions sactu, formed in the early 1950s. Trade unions and the need for transformation terry bell. Trade unions are found to have had an increasingly positive effect on members wages, although it appears that. 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. The history of the south african congress of trade unions london, lawrence and. Today trade unions are still an important force in south africa, with 3. Although trade unions have had a presence in the country since the 1880s, they were initially only for white workers. Union density rates were steadily decreasing in nearly all european countries visser 2015. The south african trade union movement represents a source of inspiration to organized labour worldwide, but has faced many challenges over the years. Formation of cosatu congress of south african trade unions 21 feb 1985.
A listing of notable historical events in south africa since 1948. Trade union movements though primarily workercentric have assumed a centre stage at finetuning the major. 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. 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. The first tradition was from shop floor unions, they developed a. This article deliberates the current state of trade unionism in south africa. In 1910, the union of south africa was created out of the cape, natal, transvaal and free state. The politicking behind the scenes for the formation of the union of south africa allowed the foundations of apartheid to be laid. 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. It is in the shadow of the above concerns that this report engages trade union strategy in south africa today.
Key issuessuch as internal union and parliamentary democracy, black empowerment, and the. Trade unions and the need for transformation terry bell writes. It can be argued today that trade unions are more necessary than ever. Yet much of the labour movement internationally is in a state of flux or stagnation and. 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. Trade unions and the workers they represented were key players in the udf. It covers the full spectrum of tradeunion activity and aims to help trade unions operate legally in dealing with. 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. Sabinet factors that have an impact on the future of trade. I assumed you mean the historical development of trade unions since 1970 in south africa. The national party sympathised with nazi germany during the war, and after the war wanted greater racial segregation.
Fedusa federation of trade unions of south africa fes friedrich albert stiftung. It was exactly eight years after the signing of the treaty of vereeniging, which had brought the second angloboer war to an end. The south african democratic teachers union sadtu is the largest trade union for teachers in south africa. The demand for trade unions in the 1930s and 1940s saha. However, since 1994 a series of questions that relate to their role in democratic south africa have remained unanswered. Archibald crawford the class war in south africa, 19111. 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. 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. 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.
The anc allies with the transvaal indian congress and the natal indian congress 1946. Black south african workers are seen as they line up at a pass office in johannesburg, south africa, on april 8, 1960, to apply for new internal passbooks. In the 1960s the countrys industrial economy had matured and by the 1970s black workers were becoming increasingly restless about exploitative working conditions. The south african trade union movement is in a state of transition. The core foundation of collective bargaining legislation in south africa was the industrial. Trade union policies and practices 199 developments during the 1980s. In south africa trade unions played a very important role to dismantle apartheid. Some recent reportage on south africa has noticed an american influence in the black consciousness movement there. Firstly, it considers the outcomes of research that was conducted in 2011. Excluded blacks from membership of registered trade unions and prohibited registration of black trade unions. The alliance was formed after an agreement was reached to work together as revolutionary alliance tripartite alliance. Since the political amalgamation of nigeria in 1914, labour unions have played increasingly powerful role in the formulation, shaping and implementation of public programmes. It was an overwhelmingly pastoral economy and wealth was measured in the number of cattle men held. The federation of south african trade unions south.
680 61 23 1206 1074 4 610 971 1539 493 696 707 1473 1077 267 186 87 92 1631 669 1522 588 1336 832 1262 311 946 770 1341 1206 747 461 1066 680 1186 1120 1342