Federation of South African Trade Unions

Last updated

FOSATU
Federation of South African Trade Unions
FOSATU Logo.png
Merged into COSATU
Founded20 April 1979
Dissolved1 December 1985
Location

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

Contents

History

The federation was formed at a congress over the weekend of 14–15 April 1979 in Hammanskraal and officially launched five days later on 20 April. [1] [2] Its roots lay in the unions which had emerged from the spontaneous 1973 strike wave by black workers in Durban and Pinetown as part of the "Durban Moment", [3] and which had since been part of the Trade Union Advisory Co-ordinating Council or the Black Consultative Committee. [4]

FOSATU's constitution enshrined the principles of workers' control of their trade unions, non-racialism, worker independence from party politics, international worker solidarity and trade union unity. It strove to build a tight national federation to work towards an industrial workers' bloc firmly based in strong grassroots organisation on the factory floor. [5] It became the first truly national non-racial trade union federation in South African history, building unity and avoiding the regionalism which had pervaded earlier attempts at such an organisation. Its success here has been attributed to the fostering of a national leadership layer of "organic intellectuals" through a strong focus on the political education of shop stewards, and tight integration of the national, provincial and local structures of the organisation. [6]

While the unions affiliated primarily organised black workers, their leadership, and that of FOSATU, was mixed, and included white activists in some prominent positions. As the Government of South Africa legalised multi-racial unions in 1979, FOSATU's affiliates decided to register. However, despite applying for multi-racial status, the government issued six of the unions with certificates which only permitted the organisation of black workers. FOSATU successfully challenged this, and the number of non-black members gradually increased. [7]

FOSATU argued for its affiliates to become industrial unions, merging so that there was only one representing workers in each industry. This led to a number of mergers, most significantly in 1980 when several unions formed the new National Automobile and Allied Workers' Union. By 1983, the federation represented workers at 489 factories, and had a total of 285 agreements with employers. [7]

The federation initially opposed industrial councils, arguing that they moved unions away from plant-based negotiations, and often compelled affiliates to renounce the right to strike. From 1982, it permitted affiliates to join industrial councils, although in some cases they faced strong opposition from rival unions. The right to strike was important, and for example, in 1983, its affiliates took part in 124 work stoppages, more than one-third of the total number of strikes across the country. It also organised consumer boycotts where a major employer would not negotiate, such as at Colgate-Palmolive in 1981. [7]

As part of its commitment to trade union unity, FOSATU was prepared to disband its structures if wider unity could be attained. [3] On 1 December 1985, following four years of unity talks between competing trade union federations, FOSATU upheld this pledge by dissolving into the newly formed Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). [8] [9]

Affiliates

Union [10] AbbreviationFoundedLeftReason for leavingMembership (1980) [11] Membership (1983) [12]
Chemical Workers' Industrial Union CWIU19741985Transferred to COSATU3,0006,260
Eastern Province Sweet, Food and Allied Workers' UnionEPSFAWU19771982Merged into SFAWU200N/A
Engineering and Allied Workers' UnionEAWUSA19631982Expelled3,000N/A
Glass and Allied Workers' UnionGAWU19731983Merged into CWIU1,300N/A
Jewellers' and Goldsmiths' UnionJGU19391985Became independent460476
Metal and Allied Workers' Union MAWU19731985Transferred to COSATU8,40020,050
Natal Sugar Industry Employees' UnionNSIEU19371984ExpelledN/A1,000
National Automobile and Allied Workers' Union NAAWU19801985Transferred to COSATUN/A18,390
National Union of Motor Assembly and Rubber Workers of South AfricaNUMARWOSA19671980Merged into NAAWU4,500N/A
National Union of Textile Workers NUTW19731985Transferred to COSATU8,30013,150
Paper, Wood and Allied Workers' Union PWAWU19741985Transferred to COSATU3,0005,030
Sweet, Food and Allied Workers' Union SFAWU19741985Transferred to COSATU2,00010,150
Transport and General Workers' Union TGWU19731985Transferred to COSATU4,5006,335
United Union of Automobile, Rubber and Allied Workers of South AfricaUAW19731980Merged into NAAWU4,000N/A
Western Province Motor Assembly Workers' UnionWPMAWU19631980Merged into NAAWU1,250N/A

Leadership

General Secretaries

1979: Alec Erwin
1983: Joe Foster

Presidents

1979: John Mke
1982: Chris Dlamini

See also

Related Research Articles

Congress of South African Trade Unions South African trade union federation

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is a trade union federation in South Africa. It was founded in 1985 and is the largest of the country's three main trade union federations, with 21 affiliated trade unions.

Anarchism in South Africa dates to the 1880s, and played a major role in the labour and socialist movements from the turn of the twentieth century through to the 1920s. The early South African anarchist movement was strongly syndicalist. The ascendance of Marxism–Leninism following the Russian Revolution, along with state repression, resulted in most of the movement going over to the Comintern line, with the remainder consigned to irrelevance. There were slight traces of anarchist or revolutionary syndicalist influence in some of the independent left-wing groups which resisted the apartheid government from the 1970s onward, but anarchism and revolutionary syndicalism as a distinct movement only began re-emerging in South Africa in the early 1990s. It remains a minority current in South African politics.

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.

The National Union of South African Students (NUSAS) was an important force for liberalism and later radicalism in South African student anti-apartheid politics. Its mottos included non-racialism and non-sexism.

Internal resistance to apartheid 1950–1994 social movement in South Africa

Internal resistance to apartheid in South Africa originated from several independent sectors of South African society and took forms ranging from social movements and passive resistance to guerrilla warfare. Mass action against the ruling National Party (NP) government, coupled with South Africa's growing international isolation and economic sanctions, were instrumental in leading to negotiations to end apartheid, which began formally in 1990 and ended with South Africa's first multiracial elections under a universal franchise in 1994.

Workers and Socialist Party Political party in South Africa

The Workers and Socialist Party (WASP) is a Marxist and Trotskyist political party in South Africa affiliated to International Socialist Alternative.

Community House (Salt River, Cape Town) Historic site of living heritage

Community House situated in Salt River, Cape Town is a unique and historic site of living heritage. It has always been known as a site of activism from around the mid 1980s which has shaped and continues to shape the socio-political landscape of its extended communities. The building itself houses NGO’s and Trade Unions as well as a labour and community history museum centered on the Trade Union Library and its archive. It presently houses twenty-four organizations that focus on labour research, popular education, gender advocacy, HIV/AIDS education, environmental issues, youth development, media production and union organization.

The South African Railways and Harbours Union was formed by black workers of the South African Railways and Harbours Administration after they had been expelled from the National Union of Railway and Harbour Servants.

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

Phumzile John Gomomo was South African Unionist and activist.

The 1973 Durban strikes, also commonly referred to as the Durban Moment were a series of labour disputes and worker-led demonstrations held in Durban in 1973. Underpaid, black African workers across various sectors deliberately withheld their labour in an attempt to demand higher wages and better working conditions. Beginning on 9 January 1973, mass strikes broke out in Durban and continued for three months until the end of March. The strikes involved roughly 60 000 black African workers and impacted more than 100 firms. The highest number of strikes occurred on the outskirts of Durban in textile, metal and chemical plants. Although the number of strikes declined after March, 100 000 black African and Indian workers were reported to have taken some form of industrial action by the end of 1973.

Transport and General Workers Union (South Africa) Trade union in South Africa

The Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) was a trade union representing transport workers, and at times workers in other sectors, in South Africa.

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

The Council of Unions of South Africa (CUSA) was a national trade union federation in South Africa.

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

HOTELICCA is a general union in South Africa.

The Urban Training Project (UTP) was an initiative to encourage black workers in South Africa to form new trade unions.

The Trade Union Advisory Co-ordinating Council (TUACC) was a national trade union federation in South Africa.

Christopher Ndodebandla Dlamini was a South African trade union leader.

The Building, Construction and Allied Workers' Union (BCAWU) is a trade union representing workers in the construction industry in South Africa.

References

  1. ↑ Friedman, Michelle (2010). "The Future is in the Hands of the Workers": A History of FOSATU (PDF). Johannesburg: Mutloatse Heritage Trust. p. 14–18. ISBN   978-09869833-1-3 . Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  2. ↑ South African History Online. "The Federation of South African Trade Unions is founded". www.sahistory.org.za. Archived from the original on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  3. 1 2 Friedman, Michelle (2010). "The Future is in the Hands of the Workers": A History of FOSATU (PDF). Johannesburg: Mutloatse Heritage Trust. p. 18–23. ISBN   978-09869833-1-3 . Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  4. ↑ Ncube, Don (1985). Black trade unions in South Africa. Braamfontein: Skotaville. pp. 109–111. ISBN   0947009051.
  5. ↑ Friedman, Michelle (2010). "The Future is in the Hands of the Workers": A History of FOSATU (PDF). Johannesburg: Mutloatse Heritage Trust. p. 34. ISBN   978-09869833-1-3 . Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  6. ↑ Friedman, Michelle (2010). "The Future is in the Hands of the Workers": A History of FOSATU (PDF). Johannesburg: Mutloatse Heritage Trust. p. 14. ISBN   978-09869833-1-3 . Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  7. 1 2 3 Ncube, Don (1985). Black trade unions in South Africa. Braamfontein: Skotaville. pp. 118–130. ISBN   0947009051.
  8. ↑ South African History Online. "Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)". www.sahistory.org.za. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  9. ↑ COSATU. "Brief History of COSATU". www.cosatu.org.za. Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  10. ↑ Kraak, Gerald (1993). Breaking the Chains: Labour in South Africa in the 1970s and 1980s. Pluto Press. ISBN   9780745307053.
  11. ↑ Miller, Shirley (1982). Trade Unions in South Africa 1970-1980: a directory and statistics. Cape Town: Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit. ISBN   0799204692.
  12. ↑ Ncube, Don (1985). Black trade unions in South Africa. Braamfontein: Skotaville. p. 102. ISBN   0947009051.
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.