South African Trades Union Congress

Last updated

The South African Trades Union Congress (TUC) was a national trade union federation in South Africa.

The council was established in 1924, as the South African Association of Employees' Organisations. It was founded at a special congress, held after the collapse of the South African Industrial Federation, which was called by the Minister of Labour, Frederic Creswell. All the affiliated unions were registered under the Industrial Conciliation Act 1924 and represented white workers. The federation was expected to be very moderate, but unexpectedly elected the leading communist Bill Andrews as its general secretary. [1] [2] [3] As president, it elected Jimmy Briggs, a Labour Party Senator. [4]

The unexpected radicalism of the federation led some long-established unions not to affiliate, while the Mine Workers' Union and South African Typographical Union soon resigned their membership. They were replaced by small industrial unions, many open to all workers. The federation also began working closely with the South African Federation of Non-European Trade Unions. [1] In 1930, the federation merged with the Cape Federation of Labour Unions, forming the South African Trades and Labour Council. [2]

Affiliates

The federation's founding affiliates were: [1]

UnionAbbreviationFoundedMembership (1926) [4]
Affiliated Plasterers' Trade Union of South Africa1896193
Amalgamated Building Trade Union of South AfricaABTU510
Amalgamated Engineering Union AEU18932,800
Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers ASW18812,600
Baking Employees' Association330
Building Workers' Industrial Union BWIU19162,000
Johannesburg Tramwaymen's Union700
Mineral Water Employees' Union
Mine Workers' Union MWU19022,500
Natal Mine Workers' Union1916300
National Vehicle Builders' Union250
South African Association of Municipal Employees SAAME19192,700
South African Boilermakers' Society SABS1916800
South African Co-ordinated Employees' Association
South African Engine Drivers' and Firemen's Association SAED&FA18941,230
South African Reduction Workers' Association SARWA920
South African Shop Assistants', Warehousemen's, Clerks' and Hairdressers' Association870
South African Society of Bank Officials SASBO19163,800
South African Typographical Union AATU18983,700
Witwatersrand Tailors' Association 19091,000
Women Workers' General Union1925N/A

Related Research Articles

Scottish Trades Union Congress

The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) is the national trade union centre in Scotland. With 40 affiliated unions as of 2020, the STUC represents over 540,000 trade unionists.

SASBO – The Finance Union

SASBO – The Finance Union is a trade union in South Africa. It was founded in 1916 and has a membership of 70,000.

Trade unions in South Africa has a history dating back to the 1880s. 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. Through the turbulent years of 1948–1991 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.

Federation of South African Trade Unions

The Federation of South African Trade Unions (FOSATU) was a trade union federation in South Africa.

Irish Trades Union Congress

The Irish Trades Union Congress (ITUC) was a union federation covering the island of Ireland.

Trades Union Congress Trade union centre in England and Wales

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in England and Wales, representing the majority of trade unions. There are 48 affiliated unions, with a total of about 5.5 million members. The current General Secretary is Frances O'Grady.

The South African Industrial Federation (SAIF) was established in 1914 as an amalgamation of the Industrial Federations in the provinces of South Africa.

The Council of Non-European Trade Unions (CNETU) was a national trade union federation bringing together unions representing black workers in South Africa.

The South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU) was a national trade union federation in South Africa.

Aberdeen Trades Union Council

Aberdeen Trades Union Council (ATUC) is the body made up of affiliated trade union branches and organisations working in the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire area to promote the interests of workers in the region. The ATUC provides services to affiliated branches on a wide range of industrial, social and community issues and is affiliated to the STUC. It has an office based in Aberdeen, Scotland.

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

The Amalgamated Engineering Union of South Africa (AEU) was a trade union representing white manufacturing workers in South Africa.

The South African Boilermakers', Iron and Steel Workers', Shipbuilders' and Welders' Society (SABS) was a trade union representing metalworkers and shipbuilders in South Africa.

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

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

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

The South African Reduction Workers' Association (SARWA) was a trade union representing officials involved in processing mining ores in South Africa.

The South African Engine Drivers' and Firemen's Association (SAEDFA) was a trade union representing people involved in operating engines 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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Lewis, Jon (1984). Industrialisation and Trade Union Organization in South Africa, 1924-1955. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN   0521263123.
  2. 1 2 Kiloh, Margaret; Sibeko, Archie (2000). A Fighting Union. Randburg: Ravan Press. p. xxxii. ISBN   0869755277.
  3. ↑ Wessel Visser, 'Exporting Trade Unionism and Labour Politics: the British Influence on the early South African Labour Movement', New Contree 49 (2005), 145-62
  4. 1 2 Gitsham, Ernest; Trembath, James H. (1926). A first account of labour organisation in South Africa (PDF). Durban: E. P. & Commercial Printing. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
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.