Trade unionism in south africa pdf

In south africa, trade unions for many years not only fought for workers rights within the workplace but. The university of the witwatersrand the role of trade unions in job. There is at the moment an active debate taking place within the ruling class in south africa on the appropriate form of trade unionism for african workers and the question of deracializing labour relations. Firestone agricultural workers union of liberia fawul members, liberia. The origin of the labour movement can be traced back in the pre.

Its created in november 2007 following the merger of two former african trade union organisations, namely icftuafro and doawtu. Blanchflower dartmouth college, national bureau of economic research and centre for economic performance, lse revised. The two faces of the black trade union movement in south africa, pp. A critical assessment of trade union strategy the case of the cwiu, 19871999.

From the beginning unions could be viewed as a reflection of the racial disunity of the. It is this that laid the basis for the struggle between labour and capital and the development of workers organisations, especially the trade unions in. Trade unionism in south africa a history of trade unionism in south africa the different periods of south africa s modern capitalist history shaped workers organisation. Trade unionism in south africa a history of trade unionism in south africa the different periods of south africas modern capitalist history shaped workers organisation.

South african trade unionism is the best developed on the african continent. Possible trade union responses to labour market challenges 20 1. However, since 1994 a series of questions that relate to their role in democratic south africa have. This chapter focuses on the role of trade unions in south africas economy. A stud oyf african trade unionism in the union of south africa is as difficult as it is urgent. This year 2008 marks the 10th year since the inception of the trust. The marikana incident has also raised questions of whether this event marks the rise or fall of trade unions in south africa. This booklet examines the legal, economic, and political environment in which trade unions operate in africa and attempts to identify the key challenges facing them. The forms of trade unionism are different for different countries, owing to the different forms of development in capitalism.

Trade unions in an emerging economy the case of south africa. South africa has more than one hundred registered trade unions now, with three major federations of trade unions. This has translated into the labour relations act which established the working framework for both unions and employers. In south africa trade unions were stared towards the dusk of 19th century but the early trade unions were formed for. A study may be conducted on the political involvement of each trade union or federation of trade unions in south. The role and challenges of trade unions in postapartheid. This booklet reflects on the resistance workers posed to racial capitalism and how this spear of the liberation movement proved decisive in the struggle against apartheid. However, trade unionism in south africa is fragmented. Industrial unionism is a labour union organizing method through which all workers in the same industry are organized into the same unionregardless of skill or tradethus giving workers in one industry, or in all industries, more leverage in bargaining and in strike situations.

The subject matter of trade unionism and workers in finland is of interest to both the government and employers. This was manifested by the strong presence of trade union movements in countries such as ghana, kenya, nigeria, south africa and zambia. Trade unionism, though built up by the workers and consisting of workers, has turned into a power over and above the workers, just as government is a power over and above the people. Before we discuss the theories of trade unionism, one has to understand the difference between trade union movement and labour movement. See lambert and webster 1988 for use of the term in the south african context. To fully comprehend the importance of trade unions and the role they have played in the transition of south africa, an overview will be given. Trade unions in an emerging economy the case of south. He coauthored union power in the nigerian textile industry with gunilla andrae nordic africa institute,uppsala 1998, crd, kano 1999 and coedited labour regimes and. It embodied the first form of proletarian organised power. Thanks to continuous struggle for rights of black workers which was also part of the anti apartheid movement, union registration and membership rights were established for blacks. This research was largely conducted in the course of my doctoral thesis, defended at the london school of economics in 2002.

The main objective of this thesis is to examine how trade unionism affects workers. In this subsection we highlight the process of arriving at the trade union principles and guidelines on development effectiveness, and indicate how they will be used inside and outside the trade union movement. Following this area, comparisons were drawn between the eu and south africa. 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. Trade unions play an important role in south africas labour relations. Trade union principles and guidelines on development effectiveness. Trade unions in south africa by southhow february 22, 2016, 9. Current labour market challenges facing trade unions 16 1. Editorial historical account affirms that by the mid 20th century, trade unionism had taken root in africa. The history of the communist party in south africa is deeply interlinked with the building and growth of progressive trade unions. The christiannational assault on white trade unionism in south africa, 19341948 dan omeara we must combat the devouring cancer of class divisions and incorporate every afrikaner worker as an inseparable part of the body of the volk1 in the 1943 south african general election, the south african labour party. There are three major union federations in sa, whose affiliates represent a broad spectrum of industry. African regional organisation of the international trade.

Trade unionism, which is the activities of association of workers in a. Arrested in 196 on a charge of high treasonhe is still standing trial and detained during the i960. In south africa, trade unions for many years not only fought for workers rights within the workplace but also beyond the workplace. 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. The article argues that the term social movement unionism has become ambiguous through too broad an application, and concludes that, rather than attempting to define a specific model of social movement unionism, analysis should focus on understanding the movement dimension of trade unionism, its relation to the institutional dimension, and how. A comparative analysis of current trade union trends in. Trade unionism has become an essential part of orderly society and south africa is taking a grave risk in stubbornly resisting its spread to africans. Third it estimates the effects of unions on relative wages.

The nucleus of the future communist party of south africa cpsa, the international socialist league isl, was founded in 1915, this. This paper examines the relationship between mass strikes, trade unionism, and revolutionary strategy in the liberation struggle. Trade unions played an important role in south africas transition from apartheid in. In south africa, trade unions for many years not only fought for. Though there is a diversity of opinions in regard to the role of trade unions in the working class movement, yet all agree to the fundamental purpose of trade unionism, viz. As a result, the labour market was characterized by a strong racial division of labour that would persist for decades to come. Though there is a diversity of opinions in regard to the role of trade unions in the working class movement, yet all agree to the fundamental purpose of. 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 core foundation of collective bargaining legislation in south africa was the industrial. National council of trade unions nactu is south africas thirdlargest trade union federation, comprising about 19 affiliate unions with a combined membership of nearly 400 000. Subsequently, the focus shifted to south africa where the levels of trade unionism in this country were determined and subsequently, factors that contribute to the level of trade unionism in south africa were discussed.

Working papers can be downloaded in pdf adobe acrobat format from. The role and influence of trade unions in the oecd david g. Trade unions of south africa are the strongest and well disciplined among countries in the african continent. Trade unions played a key role in establishing and defining a tradition of communal solidarity in poor and workingclass communities in the apartheid era theron 2010. He has written extensively on african trade unions, state and civil society, especially on nigerian union politics. As an organized movement, trade unionism also called organized labour originated in the 19th.

Such a catastrophic incident could have been prevented by more responsible trade unionism. Factors influencing the future existence of trade unions in. In their own interests, white workers and employers should encourage african workers to become good trade unionists. I wish to thank sam moyo and brian raftopoulos for their advice, as well as staff at the institute of development studies university of zimbabwe and at the zimbabwe congress of trade unions for their assistance. Trade unions in zimbabwe 87 known examples, but important developments have taken place in a number of other settings. Ways in which south african trade unions have intervened in the labour. Trade unionism in kenya south african history online. The african regional organisation of the international trade union confederation itucafrica is a panafrican trade union organization of 101 trade union centers affiliated in 51 african countries. In south africa trade unions were stared towards the dusk of 19th century but the early trade unions were formed for racially white workers. Trywell kalusopa kwabena nyarko otoo hilma shindondolamote.

When political organizations were unbanned in the early 1990s, the anc, sacp, and cosatu agreed to work together as an alliance formally known as the tripartite alliance. For this reason lindiwe maqutu, lecturer in labour law and introductory constitutional law at the university of kwazulunatal, believes the plenary session on the future of trade unions during the 30th annual labour law conference next month, is absolutely. It was formed in 1986 as an amalgamation of the azanian confederation of trade unions and the council of unions of south africa. Trade unions in many african countries played a muscular and seminal role in the late 1980s and early 1990s in mobilizing the mass protests and strikes that led to the overthrow of old. 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. In the 1990s, while trade unions in europe and the unit ed states were in decline, in south africa they entered. To understand our pro blems it is necessary for one to have a background of the labour population and its problems. For the most important works on the 1980s and 1990s, see sachikonye 1986 sachikonye, l. Trade unionism in kenya tom mboya general secretary of the kenya federation of labour. The university of the witwatersrand the role of trade. Following a historical overview of the south african trade union movement before. 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.

President of the south african congress of trade unions. The university of the witwatersrand the role of trade unions. It describes country case studies from zambia, ghana, zimbabwe, nigeria, namibia, and south africa. H in 1979 the federation of south african trade unions fosatu was formed, with the council of unions of south africa cusa being created in the following year. The congress of south african trade unions, the federation of trade unions of south africa and the national council of trade unions. It is in the shadow of the above concerns that this report engages trade union strategy in south africa today. Trapped between an ongoing informalisation of the african economies on the one hand and the consequences of neoliberal globalisation on the other, they are quite often seen to be a relict of the past. August, 1996 this project was funded under purchase order no. Unionism under the colonial and apartheid legal order in south africa 110 3. The political economy of transition, 19801986, edited by. Trade unions in africa are weak organisations with many internal problems. South africas newest trade union federation, saftu, comes at a time of declining political influence by unions, compared to during the. In the early english and american trade unions this virtue often petrified and degenerated into a narrow craftcorporation, a true capitalistic state of mind.

In a number of transitional economies, such as brazil, south africa and south korea, trade unions played a key role in the process leading to democratisation wood, 2002. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Finally, there are those who question the very centrality of class as a trade unions in zimbabwe. A comparative analysis of current trade union trends in the. Master of arts, university of the witwatersrand, johannesburg.

They are many trade unions or federations of trade unions. Meeting the challenges facing the trade union movement. Cosatu congress of south african trade unions cotu congress of trade unions kenya. To participate in the system, african trade unions have to register in terms of the. Lastly, it gives an exposition of some of the challenges faced by trade unions in postapartheid south africa. Trade unionism was the first training school in proletarian virtue, in solidarity as the spirit of organised fighting. The union grew to a membership of 53,000 by 1961, but was driven underground, and for a decade black unionism was again virtually silenced in south africa. The political and industrial organization of the black working class in south africa has always been central to the struggle against exploitation and racial oppression. As of october 2015, there are 184 registered trade unions and 23 trade union federations in south africa, according to the department of labour. Several objective and subjective reasons justify the choice of south africa as a case study reflecting the african experience with trade unionism and politics. Fourth, it explores the extent to which unions are able to influence hours of work. Trade unions in south africa roles and responsibilities. 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.

South african workers are finding the workplace more uncertain with trade unions seemingly as less effective. Over the years, trade unions have been involved in politics and other societal activities. The final part presents some conclusions and policy recommendations. Some of the oldest unions include the south african typographical union satu, registered on 15 october 1924. South africa is often cited as a perfect example for the importance of trade unions in political transformation processes. Trade union services and benefits in africa edited by. The african regional organisation of the international trade union confederation ituc africa is a panafrican trade union organization of 101 trade union centers affiliated in 51 african countries. Second, it examines the determinants of who actually belongs to a trade union across oecd countries. As in most other parts of africa, trade unions in kenya are young and in their first stages of development.

In south africa, the first government representing all south africans was a unity gov ernment of the anc and nationalist party former ruling party. Trade unionism in south africa 5 ative incorporation in collective bargaining procedures and their ability to strengthen bouregois ideology. Two such laws are discussed, namely, the labour relations act and the basic conditions of employment act. Ways in which south african trade unions have intervened in the labour market 22 chapter two. In south africa, cosatu is in a strategic political alliance with the african national congress anc and the south african communist party sacp. Advocates of industrial unionism value its contributions to building unity and solidarity, many suggesting the. The rise and fall of trade unionism in zimbabwe, part i. Trade unions in south africa have a history dating back to the 1880s. This sad event shocked the world and stirred the debate on the role of trade unions in the country. Trade unions have an immense effect on labor markets and societies. Fedusa and the national council of trade unions nactu in south africa as a response to the challenges of unemployment. Bjrn beckman is a professor of political science at stockholm university in sweden. This paper examines the relationship between mass strikes, trade unionism, and.