Congress of south african trade unions cosatu are instructive in this regard. The union, formerly known as the south african electrical workers association saewa, was founded in cape town in 1929 as a branch of the electrical workers association of the united kingdom. 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 book by the current editor of the south african labour bulletin represents.
From the beginning unions could be viewed as a reflection of the racial disunity of the. It was formed in 1986 as an amalgamation of the azanian confederation of trade unions and the council of unions of south africa. 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 an emerging economy the case of south. Although trade unions have had a presence in the country since the 1880s, they were initially only for white workers. The federation of south african women fedsaw or fsaw was launched on 17 april 1954 in johannesburg as the first attempt to establish a broadbased womens organisation. General louis bothas south african party won a majority in the 1910 general election of the union south african, with louis botha a boer leader in the angloboer war becoming the first prime minister of the union of south africa 19101919. Despite the mistrust in the boer camp, the afrikaners, as they now became known, had negotiated and achieved selfdetermination.
Abbreviations african union member state names unless otherwise noted, the full names on the left are as listed in the african union au constitutive act of 2000, plus the republic of south sudan. The history of southern africa edited by amy mckenna. This chapter focuses on the role of trade unions in south africa s economy. The formation of the federation of south african trade unions fosatu was besides in 1979. South africa reconstruction, union, and segregation.
Race, class associations and trust in trade unions. A brief history of cosatu congress of south african trade unions, matlala, william, vavi, zwelinzima on. The african union succeeded the old organization for african unity oau in 2002. This is a list of trade unions and union federations by country. 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. Congress of south african trade unions south african. South african labour history south african history online. Today trade unions are still an important force in south africa, with 3. By 1937, the union was registered as a trade union. 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. Weak but feared by hubert rene schillinger march 2005 summary trade unions in africa are weak organisations with many internal problems.
The goal of the united states mission to the african union usau is to partner with the african union in ways that will strengthen democratic institutions, promote peace and stability, support sustainable economic development through increased trade and investment, and improve the lives and health of all africans. The role of women in the south african trade union movement. Trade unions in south africa university of kwazulunatal. This historic development makes even more pressing the question. The war increased the bargaining power of the african working class. In 1930 the south african trades and labour council satlc was formed. A study may be conducted on the political involvement of each trade union or federation of trade unions in south africa.
The growth in size and sophistication of the trade union movement in south africa over a relatively short period of time has been spectacular. Industrialization and trade union organization in south africa, 1924. It has resulted in changes in employment practices and has inspired the belief that unionism and wider political trends are indivisible. The democratic nursing organisation of south africa denosa in the eastern cape feels vindicated by what minister of health, dr zweli mkhize, has discovered in the province. Raman press, johannesburg, selected articles on reserve maree, j. South africa has more than one hundred registered trade unions now, with three major federations of trade unions. 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 african union was carved out of a previously existing organisation called the organisation of african unity oau. Cosatu workers political attitudes in south africa and as a joint editor of state of the nation.
This was the brainchild of ray simons who drew in others such as helen joseph, lillian ngoyi and amina cachalia who formed the steering committee for the organisation. The university of the witwatersrand the role of trade. Throughout this period south africa produced twice as much electricity and six times as much steel as the rest of the african continent combined while at the same time. 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 second session of the assembly was in maputo in 2003, and the third session in addis ababa on july 6, 2004. It was exactly eight years after the signing of the treaty of vereeniging, which had brought the second angloboer war to an end. General functions, objectives and organizations of trade unions members and member participation origin and growth of trade unionism the nationalist government and the industrial conciliation act legislation of black labour and black trade unions south african trade unionism since 1950 present structure of the trade union movement. History of southern africa south african history online. Especially when it comes to fair and unfair labour practices. South africa was long infamous for its entrenched system of racial discrimination. Jan smuts, also a boer leader in the angloboer war, became bothas minister of defence. Panafricanism and the trade unions in the postcolonial. The south african trade union movement historical background garment workers in action by e. 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 role and challenges of trade unions in postapartheid. Possible trade union responses to labour market challenges 20 1. In the midst of the turmoil of the repression and the state of emergency, and after four years of unity talks, many trade unions came together to form a new trade union federation. 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. The oau was established on 25 may 1963 in addis ababa, on signature of the oau charter by representatives of 32 governments. The wiehahn reforms deracialise south africas statutory system of collective bargaining and dispute resolution, and introduce an industrial court to adjudicate unfair labour practice. Aug 24, 2016 list of registered trade unions in south africa june 2016 click here to download related content. Registered trade unions in south africa for 31 may 2017 information provided by the department of labour. A new sa trade union federation is born to rival cosatu. Following a historical overview of the south african trade union movement before and after the end of apartheid, it considers the labour market legislation and institutions formed since 1994.
This is what inspired the researcher to conduct a study in order to examine the role and challenges of trade unions in postapartheid south. Constitutive act of 2000, plus the republic of south sudan, which joined the au in 2011. On december 1 1985, cosatu was launched under the slogan. Oct 08, 2012 some continuities can be drawn between the difficulties facing unions regarding this aim, but on the whole, trade unions operating in the current south african context face a different and increasing compound set of obstacles webster, buhlungu and bezuidenhout, 2006. This title analyses the results of a survey of the political attitudes of members of the congress of south african trade unions cosatu undertaken in the run up to south africas third democratic general election in 2004. 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. It has a membership of fiftyone affiliated unions and represents. Workers at the kimberley diamond mines in south africa. Throughout the 1960s, south africa had economic dominance over the rest of africa and was considered the only developed country in africa by the united nations economic criteria. Trade unions in an emerging economy the case of south africa. The history of trade unions and its impact on todays. The alliance was formed after an agreement was reached to work together as revolutionary alliance tripartite alliance. Cosatus contested legacy south african trade unions in the. The oau was formed in 1963 when many african leaders wanted to accelerate the process of european decolonization and gain independence for a number of new nations.
The congress came into existenc 195e i inn, order to provide. Trade unions of south africa are the strongest and well disciplined among countries in the african continent. The wiehahn reforms deracialise south africa s statutory system of collective bargaining and dispute resolution, and introduce an industrial court to adjudicate unfair labour practice. The ideological foundation of the south african trade union movement is an adherence to nonracialism and a commitment to defending the interests of the entire working class. The survey was the third in a series, two previous ones having been conducted by some of the authors writing in the present collection before the elections of 1994 and 1999. 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. 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. Trade unions in south africa have a history dating back to the 1880s.
The union of south africa was born on may 31, 1910, created by a constitutional convention in durban in 1908 and an act of the british parliament 1909. A pervasive system of migrant labor played a fundamental part in shaping the past and present of south africa s economy and society and has left indelible marks on the wider region. The congress of south african trade unions cosatu is the largest of the three major trade union centres, with a membership of 1. The aim of this book is to reproduce the exhibition in a style that retains the spirit of the exhibition but also adds. Africa, we can say that part of our history points to the importance played by organisations of workers in the fall of apartheid. The history and development of the african union panorama. Ways in which south african trade unions have intervened in the labour market 22 chapter two. He has made a deep study of the industrial laws of the country and the history of the trade union movement. A new sa trade union federation is born to rival cosatu speaking at the launch of the south african federation of trade unions saftu, jay naidoo urges members to focus on growing mass power.
Thereafter, a detailed evaluation of the impact of trade unions, legislation, and institutions on labour market outcomes in south africa is provided, and it is found that despite a long history, trade union. South african congress of trade unions the south african congress of trade unions was established in 1955 after the right wing unions walked out of the south african trades and labour council in 1954 to form the exclusive white, coloured, and indian workers trade union council of south africa. South african trade unions in the second decade of democracy. Trade union history the south african equity workers. Apr 30, 2017 the newly launched trade union grouping in south africa the south african federation of trade unions saftu promises to be a voice for the growing numbers of unorganised and marginalised. Trade union policies and practices 199 developments during the 1980s.
Jun 11, 2017 there is, however, a long history of union links to political parties, notable examples being close links between whiteonly unions and the south african labour party founded 1909, and the alliance between the south african congress of trade unions sactu, formed 1955 and the african national congress anc, founded 1912. As a working class specific counterpart to pan african gatherings such as the conference of independent african states in accra in april 1958 and the all african peoples conference in the december of the same year, by 1961, the all african trade union federation aatuf was established in. It was founded in 1985 and is the largest of the countrys three main trade union federations, with 21 affiliated trade unions. Trapped between an ongoing informalisation of the african economies on the one hand and the consequences of. Pdf legislation and employment relations in south africa. The congress of south african trade unions cosatu is a trade union federation in south africa. In south africa trade unions played a very important role to dismantle apartheid. Ways in which south african trade unions have intervened in the labour market 22. The development of the trade union movement 1930s and 1940s during the 1930s and 1940s attempts at organising workers into trade unions became more widespread. South africa is one of the unionised countries in the world and the involvement of trade unions in resolving disputes including grievances and disciplinary matters is crucial.
The demand for trade unions in the 1930s and 1940s saha. Meeting the challenges facing the trade union movement. South african labour and industrial history which have hitherto received too little. There is a detailed evaluation of the impact of trade unions and wage legislation on labor market outcomes in south africa. The congress of south african trade unions will convene its ordinary threeday central executive committee cec meeting from the 24th 26th of february 2020 to discuss organisational, political and socioeconomic issues affecting the workers and the working class in general. The federation of south african women fedsaw was founded in 1954 by two members of south africa s communist party, rachel ray alexander simons, a trade union leader, and hilda bernstein, a member of the johannesburg city council. Trade union services and benefits in africa edited by. This paper provides a historical overview of the south african trade union movement, followed by a brief discussion of the labour market legislation and institutions formed since 1994. List of registered trade unions in south africa june 2016. Later numarwosa set up its own parallel african union uaw and african membership grew.
Most of the african unions in south africa belong to it. The politics of trade unionism and the consciousness of workers have always been linked closely to struggles over the class and ethnic form postcolonial power. They are many trade unions or federations of trade unions. Democratic trade unions and the struggle against apartheid jstor. The trade union movement and the tripartite alliance. South africa south africa reconstruction, union, and segregation 190229. As a result, the labour market was characterized by a strong racial division of labour that would persist for decades to come. Its roots lay in the unions which had emerged from. But it is also unique in the extent to which urbanization, industrialization, and rural transformation have been molded by. The african union was launched in durban on july 9, 2002 by its first president, south african, thabo mbeki at the first session of the assembly of the african union.
Following a historical overview of the south african trade union movement before. Political organizations and trade unions 66 christianity and african popular religion 67 the impact of world war ii 68. The meeting will be followed by the usual media briefing to. Two such laws are discussed, namely, the labour relations act and the basic conditions of employment act. From the beginning unions could be viewed as a reflection of the racial disunity of the country, with the earliest unions. The union of south africa came to an end after a referendum on 5 october 1960, in which a majority of white south africans voted in favour of unilateral withdrawal from the british commonwealth and the establishment of a republic of south africa. The roots of trade unionism and socialism can be traced back to the vast influx of majority white workers who came to southern africa from across the globe in the search of fortunes and work in. National council of trade unions nactu is south africa s thirdlargest trade union federation, comprising about 19 affiliate unions with a combined membership of nearly 400 000. Federation of south african women fedsaw, multiracial womens organization that was one of the most important antiapartheid organizations in 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. The challenges facing the south african labour movement.
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. Hepple has waged many a doughty battle on behalf of workers and voteless nonwhites. Those unions that refused joined up with the noneuropean trade union council and in 1954 they jointly launched the south african congress of trade unions sactu. Current labour market challenges facing trade unions 16 1. Federation of south african trade unions wikipedia. Trade unions in south africa roles and responsibilities. In 1939, the joint committee of african trade unions jcatu was formed when 20,000 workers from eleven different unions joined. The federation of south african trade unions fosatu was a trade union federation formed at a congress over the weekend of 1415 april 1979 in hammanskraal and officially launched five days later on 20 april. However, since 1994 a series of questions that relate to their role in democratic south africa have remained unanswered.
Since then, the new institution has struggled to reform governing bodies inherited from the oau while shouldering. A brief history the union of south africa, formed in 1910, was characterized by a political partnership between englishspeaking and afrikaans speaking whites, representing their mining and. He has a unionist background and contributes regularly to the field of south african labour studies, including as an editor of trade unions and democracy. In south africa trade unions were stared towards the dusk of 19th century but the early trade unions were formed for. Key issuessuch as internal union and parliamentary democracy, black empowerment, and the. On may 31, 1910, the union of south africa was formed under british dominion. 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. Federation of south african women fedsaw south african. The article ran by two provincial newspapers, daily dispatch and the herald, exposed how the minister was furious about unpreparedness of the province to deal with.
The reality, however, is that racial differences exist when analysing trust in south african trade unions. The core foundation of collective bargaining legislation in south africa was the industrial. Between 1930 and 1955 it was the largest body of trade unions in south africa. Most trade unions in the world exist for historical and ideological reasons of advancing the cause. Congress of south african trade unions 1994 2014 south. 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. 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. Both the state and employers wanted to maintain production so that the war effort was not disrupted.
The history of working people, and particularly black workers, to organise is inextricably tied to the struggle against racism and national liberation. Maree, j 1993 trade unions and corporatism in south africa, in transformation 21. 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. On the 31 may 1910, exactly eight years after the boers had made peace with the english through the treaty of vereeniging, south africa became a union. In todays world, we need to arm ourselves with as much information regarding our rights. 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.
See annual report of the certification officer 20112012 2012 appendix 1. This chapter focuses on the role of trade unions in south africas economy. Federation of south african trade unions fosatu formed. The union of south africa 1910 south african history online. Labour and taxation trade union federation is the congress of south african trade unions cosatu, which maintains a formal political alliance with the anc and is a nonracial but mainly black body that includes the countrys largest unions, among them the national union of mineworkers. The university of the witwatersrand the role of trade unions.