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. The role and challenges of trade unions in postapartheid. The university of the witwatersrand the role of trade. South african union center holds th congress workers world. The congress of south african trade unions cosatu, after its establishment in 1985 unifying contending unions and federations, was instrumental in the struggle against apartheid.
Trade unions in south africa roles and responsibilities. A south african trade policy and strategy framework. 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. With over 100 registered trade unions, it is not surprising that over 3. Kinyondo thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of phd economics in the faculty of economics and management sciences at the university of pretoria study advisor. It was founded in 1985 and is the largest of the countrys three main trade union federations, with 21 affiliated trade unions, altogether organizing 1. This was manifested by the strong presence of trade union movements in countries such as ghana, kenya, nigeria, south africa and zambia.
Historically in south africa, trade unions function was primarily political as organised labour was instrumental in advocating for democracy. Labour relations in the constitution, every worker has the right to join a trade union. As it is, trade unions in south africa are the strongest and most stable compared to other african countries. The majority of their members are in the mining and quarrying sector, followed by the public sector in community, social and personal. Following a historical overview of the south african trade union movement before. It was founded in 1985 and is the largest of the countrys three main trade union federations, with 21 affiliated trade unions. As this book demonstrates, for many trade unions in africa, the struggle has not only been for favourable working conditions but for political liberation of their countries as well. 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.
African trade unionism in south africa 35 achieved by forming a new organisation, and the council dissolved itself after a bitter dispute with a minority of fourteen affiliated unions which were hotly opposed to the dissolution. Trywell kalusopa kwabena nyarko otoo hilma shindondolamote. This also involved various campaigns to challenge the economic policies of the. 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. Working papers can be downloaded in pdf adobe acrobat format from. This year 2008 marks the 10th year since the inception of the trust. Congress of south african trade unions cosatu is the biggest of the countrys three main trade union federations, with a combined membership of 2. The congress of south african trade unions, the federation of trade unions of south africa and the national council of trade unions. Federation of south african trade unions wikipedia. In south africa, cosatu is in a strategic political alliance with the african national congress anc and the south african communist party sacp. This chapter focuses on the role of trade unions in south africas economy.
In 1985, the congress of south african trade unions cosatu, composed of the most powerful unions in terms of number of workers was founded 3. Objectives, function, formation, regulation, rights and liabilities. It is important that the threeyear progressive alliance that has governed south africa for the past 24 years stays united to compete in next years general elections. A study may be conducted on the political involvement of each trade union or federation of trade unions in south africa. 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 core foundation of collective bargaining legislation in south africa was the industrial. Trapped between an ongoing informalisation of the african economies on the one hand and the consequences of. This year marks the 26th anniversary of our freedom that marked the demise of the apartheid regime and heralded our democratic breakthrough. Africa trade unions and africas future solidarity center. 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. I have received very useful comments from godfrey kanyenze, research director of the zimbabwe congress of trade unions, rudolf traubmerz, resident director of the fredrich ebert stiftung fes in zimbabwe, lovemore madhuku of the university of zimbabwe and the fes, and doreen nyamukapa of the textiles and clothing unions. Today trade unions are still an important force in south africa, with 3. Hepple has waged many a doughty battle on behalf of workers and voteless nonwhites. Since its formation in 1985, the congress of south african trade unions cosatu had played a significant role in the political landscape of south africa.
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. Whether temporary or permanent, primarily for the purpose of regulating the relations between workers and employers or between workers for imposing restrictive conditions on the conduct of any trade or business and includes the federations of two or more trade unions. They are many trade unions or federations of trade unions. Preface this publication is the fifth issue in the policy paper series of the ilo southern african. From the start, cosatu appeared to be in support of the then banned african national congress. Trade unions are an important force in south africa, with 3. A computable general equilibrium cgeanalysis by godbertha k. A southern african perspective shows how the capacity of labour law to protect workers and effectively regulate labour markets in the southern african subregion is hampered by a number of factors. Fedusa and the national council of trade unions nactu in south africa as a response to the challenges of unemployment. It was founded in 1985 and is the largest of the countrys three main. The congress of south african trade unions cosatu is a trade union federation in south africa. Trade unions and financial inclusion the case of south africa. 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.
This union had close links with opposition parties such as the african national congress anc and the south african communist party sacp. The congress of south african trade unions cosatu is the largest of the three major trade union centres, with a membership of 1. A south african trade policy and strategy framework, april 2010 v foreword by the honourable dr. 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.
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 necessary. The congress of south african trade unions cosatu played a key role in challenging the policies of the apartheid government in the 1980s. This paper also analyses some of the responses adopted by countries in the southern african development community sadc. Trade unions of south africa are the strongest and well disciplined among countries in the african continent. The atuc represented black african workers, and was opposed to the system of white minority rule in rhodesia. Trade unions in an emerging economy the case of south.
Apr 30, 2016 how unions have boosted pay, job security in democratic south africa april 30, 2016 4. 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. Various strategies were used in order to win the struggle for basic worker and trade union rights around this period. Trade unions are formed to protect and promote the interests of their members. 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. South african trade unionism is the best developed on the african continent. Trade unions in an emerging economy the case of south africa. In this article i shall deal with the south african congress of. The majority of their members are in the mining and quarrying sector, followed by the public sector in community, social and personal services, and electricity, gas and water supply 2012 figures, cosatu draft organisational report, pdf. For this reason, some of the larger craft unions of white workers had consistently refused to affiliate to it. Their primary function is to protect the interests of workers against discrimination and unfair labor practices. As a federation, it brought together many of the unions formed after the wave of strikes at the beginning of 1973 which marked a. 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.
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. We represent 30 unions working to create an independent, campaigning and democratic trade union federation. The survey of the south african legislative framework with reference to collective labour law demonstrates that our legislature adopts a pluralist1 approach to labour relations and therefore strongly supports trade unions and collective bargaining, especially at sectoral level. We shall defend, if need be, with our lives, the fighting independence of our revolutionary and socialist oriented federation. Weak but feared by hubert rene schillinger march 2005 summary trade unions in africa are weak organisations with many internal problems. The atuc was formed in 1962 as the southern rhodesian african trade union congress sratuc, a breakaway from the more moderate southern rhodesian trade union congress. A stud oyf african trade unionism in the union of south africa is as difficult as it is urgent. As a result, the labour market was characterized by a strong racial division of labour that would persist for decades to come. South africas newest trade union federation, saftu, comes at a time of declining political influence by unions, compared to during the struggle against apartheid.
Apr 25, 2017 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, the growth of which may help the reader to understand the true position of the labour. How unions have boosted pay, job security in democratic. The south african effect, 57 a new role for the state, 58 response of the social partners, 59 ilo technical cooperation, 61. Cosatu workers political attitudes in south africa and as a joint editor of state of the nation. The congress of south african trade unions cosatu was launched on 1 december 1985, at the height of the struggle against apartheid. Several objective and subjective reasons justify the choice of south africa as a case study reflecting the african experience with trade unionism and politics. Pdf this paper provides a historical overview of the south african trade union movement, followed by a brief discussion of the labour market. The existing trade union centre, the south african trades and labour council, had opposed racial discrimination and had admitted unions of african workers to its ranks. South africa has more than one hundred registered trade unions now, with three major federations of trade unions.
Addressing the opening session of the th congress of south african trade unions cosatu, president of the republic of south africa and the african national congress cyril ramaphosa made the following appeal. The specific labour laws regarding trade unions are. Trade unions represent individual workers when they have a problem at work. Whether temporary or permanent, primarily for the purpose of regulating the relations between workers and employers or between workers for imposing restrictive conditions on the conduct of any trade or business and. Congress of trade unions to publish this trade union guide for south african workers, written by mr. How unions have boosted pay, job security in democratic south. It is important that the threeyear progressive alliance that has governed south africa f.
Pdf since its formation in 1985, the congress of south african trade unions cosatu had played a significant role in the political. Congress of south african trade unions cosatu, was the single most powerful organised formation in the antiapartheid struggle in south africa3. Oct 02, 2018 addressing the opening session of the th congress of south african trade unions cosatu, president of the republic of south africa and the african national congress cyril ramaphosa made the following appeal. The new south african trade union council excluded african. Congress of south african trade unions cosatu south. In south africa, trade unions for many years not only fought for. 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. 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. Trade unions are found to have had an increasingly positive effect on members wages, although it appears that.
How unions have boosted pay, job security in democratic south africa april 30, 2016 4. Factors influencing the future existence of trade unions in. Trade unions are formed to achieve the following objectives. The congress of south african trade unions wishes workers and south africans in general, a wonderful freedom day tomorrow, 27 april 2020. Its roots lay in the unions which had emerged from the spontaneous 1973 strike wave by black workers in durban and pinetown part of the durban moment. From the early 1970s to the late 1980s, the african labour movement had evolved as a stronghold for the expression of the aspirations of. This paper discusses the utilisation of social movement trade unionism by the congress of south african trade unions cosatu in seeking to influence the government to pursue policies that improve the lives of workers in south africa. South african workers are finding the workplace more uncertain with trade unions seemingly as less effective. 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.
Registered trade unions in south africa for 31 may 2017 information provided by the department of labour. The university of the witwatersrand the role of trade unions. There are three major union federations in sa, whose affiliates represent a broad spectrum of industry. Two such laws are discussed, namely, the labour relations act and the basic conditions of employment act. 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.
Analyses of the alliance between the congress of south african trade unions cosatu and the ruling african national congress anc have been preoccupied with debating the desirability or. Trade unions trade unions play an important role in south africas labour relations. Factors influencing the future existence of trade unions. The south african trade union movement is in a state of transition.
South african federation of trade unions saftu organise. The african trade union congress atuc was a national trade union centre in rhodesia later zimbabwe. Supporters of the congress of south african trade unions and the south african communist party. In south africa trade unions were stared towards the dusk of 19th century but the early trade unions were formed for. List of trade unions in south africa and their major role. 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 composition of union membership.
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