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Federation of South African Trade Unions

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FOSATU
Federation of South African Trade Unions
Merged intoCOSATU
Founded20 April 1979
Dissolved1 December 1985
Location

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

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] Abbreviation Founded Left Reason for leaving Membership (1980)[11] Membership (1983)[12]
Chemical Workers' Industrial Union CWIU 1974 1985 Transferred to COSATU 3,000 6,260
Eastern Province Sweet, Food and Allied Workers' Union EPSFAWU 1977 1982 Merged into SFAWU 200 N/A
Engineering and Allied Workers' Union EAWUSA 1963 1982 Expelled 3,000 N/A
Glass and Allied Workers' Union GAWU 1973 1983 Merged into CWIU 1,300 N/A
Jewellers' and Goldsmiths' Union JGU 1939 1985 Became independent 460 476
Metal and Allied Workers' Union MAWU 1973 1985 Transferred to COSATU 8,400 20,050
Natal Sugar Industry Employees' Union NSIEU 1937 1984 Expelled N/A 1,000
National Automobile and Allied Workers' Union NAAWU 1980 1985 Transferred to COSATU N/A 18,390
National Union of Motor Assembly and Rubber Workers of South Africa NUMARWOSA 1967 1980 Merged into NAAWU 4,500 N/A
National Union of Textile Workers NUTW 1973 1985 Transferred to COSATU 8,300 13,150
Paper, Wood and Allied Workers' Union PWAWU 1974 1985 Transferred to COSATU 3,000 5,030
Sweet, Food and Allied Workers' Union SFAWU 1974 1985 Transferred to COSATU 2,000 10,150
Transport and General Workers' Union TGWU 1973 1985 Transferred to COSATU 4,500 6,335
United Union of Automobile, Rubber and Allied Workers of South Africa UAW 1973 1980 Merged into NAAWU 4,000 N/A
Western Province Motor Assembly Workers' Union WPMAWU 1963 1980 Merged into NAAWU 1,250 N/A

Leadership

General Secretaries

1979: Alec Erwin
1983: Joe Foster

Presidents

1979: John Mke
1982: Chris Dlamini

See also

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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c 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.
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