It can be argued today that trade unions are more necessary than ever. As a federation, it brought together many of the unions formed after the wave of strikes at the beginning of 1973 which marked a renewal of trade union activity after a decadelong lull. Trade unions shut down south african farm workers strike. Congress of south african trade unions 1994 2014 south. In the 1930s south africa experienced rapid economic growth and there was an increasing demand for labour. The south african democratic teachers union sadtu is the largest trade union for teachers in south africa. The history of the black labour movement in south africa passes through four distinct phases, starting with the establishment of the industrial and commercial workers union of africa. The trade union movement and the tripartite alliance. The history of trade unions and its impact on todays industrial relations trade unions. The wiehahn reforms deracialise south africas statutory system of collective bargaining and dispute resolution, and introduce an industrial court to adjudicate unfair labour practice claims. But the trade unions impact may not be limited simply to south africas labor laws. 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. 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. This was intensified when the second world war broke out and many africans moved into semiskilled positions to replace white workers who had gone to fight in the war.
The authors of the report measured whether there had been a decline in public confidence in trade unions by analysing 2011 and 2012 data from the south african social attitudes survey. The next year, at its 48th session, the international labour. The challenges facing the south african labour movement mobilization of diverse constituencies in a changing context geoffrey wood pauline dibben there is a growing body of literature on the role and impact of unions in the developing world, and on their ability to mobilize members against a background of neoliberal reforms. The first part of this paper provides a brief overview of the historical evolution of labour.
Federation of south african trade unions fosatu formed. Public and allied workers union of south africa, public sector, n. 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. Pdf legislation and employment relations in south africa. The anc allies with the transvaal indian congress and the natal indian congress 1946. Department of mercantile, law college of law, unisa. Fedusa general secretary dennis george said that, while fedusa respected the constitutional. In fact, cosatu congress of south african trade unions which was founded in 1985 today, with 1,7 million members not only the largest of the three federations in south africa, but undoubtedly also. The congress of south african trade unions cosatu was launched on 1 december 1985, at the height of the struggle against apartheid. India severs trade relationships with the union of south africa, in protest against its discriminatory treatment of people with an asian origin 1944.
From the beginning unions could be viewed as a reflection of the racial disunity of the. Raman press, johannesburg, selected articles on reserve maree, j. Origins of the trade union movement saha south african. Congress of south african trade unions cosatu are instructive in this regard. This chapter focuses on the role of trade unions in south africas economy. Indeed, by 1987 the african labour movement, the form of in the congress of south african trade unions cosatu, was the single most powerful organised formation in the antiapartheid struggle in south africa3. Sa already has four union federations fedusa fin24. Trade unions and the law in south africa lexisnexis sa. Through the turbulent years of 19481991 trade unions played an important part in developing political and economic resistance, and eventually were one of the driving forces in realising the transition to an inclusive democratic government. 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. A labour law perspective by makwena ernest manamela submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of doctor of laws at the university of south africa supervisor. How unions have boosted pay and job security in democratic. Trade unions are found to have had an increasingly positive effect on members wages, although it appears that.
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 shut down south african farm workers strike by iqra qalam and jashua lumet 8 december 2012 the congress of south african trade unions cosatu called off the strike of farm workers in. Trade unions, however, stood out among the other institutions, showing a far more significant fall in confidence. The demand for trade unions in the 1930s and 1940s.
Indeed, these organized and highly democratic groups may have helped to make possible the tumbling of apartheid in south africa altogether. 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. Origins of the trade union movement early mineworkers struggles trade unions in the 1930s and 1940s the call for a nonracial union tightening the noose with labour reforms the birth of fosatu unity for workers struggles cosatu unites. The university of the witwatersrand the role of trade. It will also be useful for environmental organisations, trade unions, business, and politicians. Trywell kalusopa kwabena nyarko otoo hilma shindondolamote. Strategies like the one million climate jobs campaign in south africa cock. Part i of this note will recount the historical role of black trade unions in.
In south africa, trade unions for many years not only fought for workers rights within the workplace but also beyond the workplace. Industrialisation and trade union organization in south. The role and challenges of trade unions in postapartheid. Trade unions have created positive effect on members wages, even though it seems that this increase has resulted in part from changes in the composition of union membership. For the purposes of this article, secondary sources, including books, chapters. Fedusa and the national council of trade unions nactu in south africa as a response to the challenges of unemployment. It has resulted in changes in employment practices and has inspired the belief that unionism and wider political trends are indivisible.
Through the turbulent years of 19481991 trade unions played an important part in developing political and economic resistance, and eventually were one of the. By analysing trade union structures and strategies in the context of these changes, dr lewis shows how. Should the requirements be satisfied, minority trade unions and nonunionised employees will be bound by collective agreements extended in terms of this section. Key issuessuch as internal union and parliamentary democracy, black empowerment, and the. The durban strikes and the resurgence of the trade union. Factors influencing the future existence of trade unions. 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 play an integral role in. Zambia labour market profile 2014 ulandssekretariatet. Following a historical overview of the south african trade union movement before. National union of mineworkers south africa wikipedia.
In south africa trade unions were stared towards the dusk of 19th century but the early trade unions were formed for racially white workers. Trade unions and the law is endorsed by cosatu as the ideal reference for union officials, representatives and their legal advisors. But the fact that there are still countries that remain obstinately autocratic where trade unions have been working hard at achieving a transition to democracy, indicates that trade unions on their own do not ensure the existence of, or transition to, democracy in a. The following is a list of major independent trade unions, which are solely accountable to their members and free from employer domination as it stood on 31 march 2012. Cliffe dekker hofmeyr minority trade unions are bound by. It merged with the cape federation of labour unions in 1930, forming. South africa is often cited as a perfect example for the importance of trade unions in political transformation processes. Cosatu congress of south african trade unions cotu congress of trade unions kenya cpp convention peoples party csawuz civil servants and allied workers union of zambia. This major study of south african trade unionism traces the history of the south african trades and labour council tlc from its origins in the 1920s to its demise in the early 1950s. African national congress, south african historical journal 28, may 1993, pp. To participate in the system, african trade unions have to register in terms of the. Trade unions in south africa roles and responsibilities. The challenges facing the south african labour movement.
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. Africa, we can say that part of our history points to the importance played by organisations of workers in the fall of apartheid. Lastly, it gives an exposition of some of the challenges faced by trade unions in postapartheid south africa. The core foundation of collective bargaining legislation in south africa was the industrial. The social crisis of labour and the crisis of labour politics in south. The alliance was formed after an agreement was reached to work together as revolutionary alliance tripartite alliance. Thanks to continuous struggle for rights of black workers which was also part of the anti apartheid movement, union registration and.
The congress of south african trade unions cosatu, formed 1985, claiming around 1. Trade union services and benefits in africa edited by. Trade unions in south africa have a history dating back to the 1880s. Trade unions played an important role in south africas transition from apartheid in 1994 and keep on a very public role in the south african economy. This year 2008 marks the 10th year since the inception of the trust. Following the history of labour crises and agitations in nigeria, it is imperative to draw the attention of labour unions to the need to make efforts in curbing the persistent poverty of. Ilo history project the role of the ilo during and ending. The national union of mineworkers num is a trade union in south africa. Ilo history project the role of the ilo during and ending apartheid compiled by. 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 act from 1992 makes specific provision for the. The south african trades union council was established in 1925 as a result of a special congress after the collapse of the south african industrial federation called by the minister of labour, colonel cresswell. Labour unions and the transformation of the nigerian civil.
It covers the full spectrum of tradeunion activity and aims to help trade unions operate legally in dealing with. Sadtu, south africas largest teachers union, was launched in johannesburg 1 oct 1990 da vinci clothing workers in natal go on strike, sparking off an industrywide strike of 15 000 workers, over wage increases. The book focuses on south africas secondary industrialisation and subsequent changes in work organisation. South africas newest trade union federation, saftu, comes at a time of declining political influence by unions, compared to during the struggle against apartheid. Trade unions and the need for transformation terry bell.
Congress of south african trade unions cosatu south. Yet much of the labour movement internationally is in a state of flux or stagnation and. Cosatu has been involved in the liberation of the country and has fought for the interest of the marginalised working. To fully comprehend the importance of trade unions and the role they have played in the transition of. Maree, j 1993 trade unions and corporatism in south africa, in transformation 21. History, structure and challenges of workers representation. As a result, the labour market was characterized by a strong racial division of labour that would persist for decades to come.
Women are allowed to become full members of the anc 1943. South africa and south korea, trade unions played a key role in the process leading to democratisation wood, 2002. The formation of the federation of south african trade unions fosatu in 1979 and of the congress of south african trade unions cosatu in 1985 saw the union movement move from strength to strength, and eventually become a major force in the dismantling of the apartheid structure. Professor mandla makhanya, principal and vice chancellor, professor rushiela songca, executive dean of. The role of women in the south african trade union movement. A contrast between pre and post 1994 south africa october 8, 2012 by intelliconn in featured analysis, labour relations. On 10 august 2012, thousands of num members began a series of wildcat strikes at lonmins marikana mines linked.
The alliance between the governing african national congress and the congress of. 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. How unions have boosted pay and job security in democratic south africa. Registered trade unions in south africa for 31 may 2017 information provided by the department of labour. The demand for trade unions in the 1930s and 1940s saha. A southern african perspective shows how the capacity of labour law to. The history of trade unions and its impact on todays. All the affiliated unions were registered under the industrial conciliation act 1924 and represented white workers. Over the years, trade unions have been involved in politics and other societal activities. Cape town south africa already has four trade unions, the federation of unions of south africa fedusa said on tuesday as nineplus unions gear up to form a new independent labour federation.
373 873 1204 1278 1353 988 798 675 1409 93 1458 707 968 337 169 1512 116 106 1511 236 42 378 1251 1505 334 1622 1292 7 200 1441 777 910 905 183 318 1333 1345 480