National Union of Distributive Workers

Last updated

The National Union of Distributive Workers (NUDW) was a trade union representing workers involved in retail and goods transport in South Africa.

Contents

History

The union was founded in 1936 by supporters of the South African Communist Party, to represent white and "coloured" workers in the industry. In 1937, Max Gordon and Daniel Koza launched the African Commercial and Distributive Workers' Union to represent black workers in the industry, and from 1942 the two unions had a collaborative relationship. [1] They held a major joint strike in 1943, which established recognition of the union with most major chains of shops. [2]

The NUDW campaigned successfully for the option of part-time work in the industry, achieved in 1953, and later for the improvement of the conditions of employment of part-time workers, mostly white women. From the late 1960s, the union campaigned against discrimination against "coloured" and Indian workers, forming the National Union of Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers (NUCCAW) as a parallel union to represent them. It was also opposed to the reservation of certain categories of work for white people, and more black workers gradually entered the sector. [2]

By 1970, the union had 12,593 members and was affiliated to the Trade Union Council of South Africa. In 1975, it helped form the Commercial Catering and Allied Workers' Union of South Africa, to represent black workers in the sector. [2] Its membership began to fall, dropping to 5,328 in 1980. At this point, it was led by Dulcie Hartwell. [3]

In November 1982, the union merged with NUCCAW, to form the National Union of Distributive and Allied Workers. [4]

General Secretaries

1956: Ray Altman
1980: Dulcie Hartwell

Related Research Articles

Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers

The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) is a trade union in the United Kingdom, consisting of around 400,000 members. Usdaw members work in a variety of occupations and industries including: shopworkers, factory and warehouse workers, drivers, call centres, clerical workers, milkround and dairy process, butchers and meat packers, catering, laundries, chemical processing, home shopping and pharmaceutical. The retail sector employs around 2.77 million people.

Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association Australian trade union

The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association (SDA) is the largest private sector trade union in Australia, with 214,149 members as at 30 June 2021. It has branches in every state and territory representing retail, fast-food and warehousing workers.

South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union Trade union in South Africa

The South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU) is a trade union representing retail, distribution and hospitality workers in South Africa.

The Food and Canning Workers' Union (FCWU) was a trade union representing food processing workers in South Africa. Its members were mainly based in the Western and Eastern Cape. It was affiliate with the African Food and Canning Workers' Union (AFCWU).

The Trade Union Council of South Africa (TUCSA) was national trade union federation in South Africa.

The South African Typographical Union (SATU) is a trade union representing workers in the printing and media industries in South Africa.

The Garment Workers' Union of the Western Province (GWU-WP) was a trade union representing workers in the clothing industry in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.

The Motor Industry Combined Workers' Union (MICWU) was a trade union representing workers in vehicle manufacturing and servicing, and also petrol attendants, in South Africa.

The Hotel and Restaurant Workers' Union (HARWU) was a trade union representing hospitality workers in South Africa.

The National Union of Furniture and Allied Workers (NUFAW) is a trade union representing workers in the furniture industry in South Africa.

HOTELICCA is a general union in South Africa.

The South African Trades and Labour Council (SAT&LC) was a national trade union federation in South Africa.

Dulcie Marie Hartwell was a South Africa trade union leader.

The South African Footplate Staff Association (SAFSA) was a trade union representing white railway workers in South Africa.

The Furniture Workers' Industrial Union (FWIU) was a trade union representing workers involved in making furniture in South Africa.

The Transport and Allied Workers' Union of South Africa (TAWUSA) is a trade union representing workers in the transport sector in South Africa.

The Sweet Workers' Union (SWU) was a small but long-lived union representing confectionery workers in South Africa.

The South African Equity Workers' Association (SAEWA) is a general union in South Africa.

The Hospitality Industry and Allied Workers' Union (HIAWU) is a trade union representing workers in the hospitality sector in South Africa.

The Federal Council of Retail and Allied Workers (FEDCRAW) is a trade union representing workers in the retail sector in South Africa.

References

  1. ↑ Hirson, Baruch (1990). Yours for the Union - Class and Community Struggles in South Africa. 1930-1947. Tom Lodge (contributor). London: Zed Books. pp. 90, 93. ISBN   9780862323691.
  2. 1 2 3 Kenny, Bridget (28 April 2016). "The Regime of Contract in South African Retailing: A History of Race, Gender, and Skill in Precarious Labor". International Labor and Working-Class History. Cambridge University Press. 89: 20–39. doi:10.1017/S0147547915000320. S2CID   156954610.
  3. ↑ Miller, Shirley (1982). Trade Unions in South Africa, 1970-1980: a directory and statistics. Cape Town: Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit. ISBN   978-0-7992-0469-8.
  4. ↑ FIET Newsletter (1983), p.11
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.