Trade Unions Today
Trade unions are recognized within the 1996 Constitution of South Africa, which provides for the right to join trade unions, and for unions to collectively bargain and strike. This has translated into the Labour Relations Act which established the working framework for both unions and employers. Three institutions have also been created to further the goals of reducing industrial relations conflict, and both eliminating unfair discrimination and redressing past discrimination in the workplace: the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC), the Labour Court, and the Council for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
| ANC | African National Congress |
| CCMA | Council for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration |
| CONSAWU | Confederation of South African Workers' Unions |
| COSATU | Congress of South African Trade Unions |
| FEDUSA | Federation of Unions of South Africa |
| FOSATU | Federation of South African Trade Unions |
| ICFTU | International Confederation of Free Trade Unions |
| ILO | International Labour Organization |
| NACTU | National Council of Trade Unions |
| NEDLAC | National Economic Development and Labour Council |
| NEHAWU | National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union |
| NP | National Party |
| NUM | National Union of Mineworkers |
| SACCOLA | South African Committee on Labour Affairs |
| SACP | South African Communist Party |
| SATLC | South African Trades and Labour Council |
| TAC | Treatment Action Campaign |
| UWUSA | United Workers' Union of South Africa |
| WCL | World Confederation of Labour |
With the creation of the Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) from the merger of the Federation of South African Labour Unions (FEDSAL) and several smaller unions in 1997, the three main union organizations were established. COSATU, with a membership of 1.8 million, is followed by FEDUSA with 560,000 members and NACTU with almost 400,000 members including the powerful mineworkers union. All three are affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation.
A fourth national trade union centre was formed in 2003. The Confederation of South African Workers' Unions (CONSAWU) is affiliated with the World Confederation of Labour (WCL).
The 2006 ICFTU Annual Survey of violations of trade union rights noted South Africa:
"Serious violations were reported during the year, including the death of two workers killed by their employer in a wage dispute, and a striking farm worker killed by security guards. Protest strikes and demonstrations met with violent repression, such as the use of rubber bullets, which in the case of striking truck drivers, led to injuries."
Read more about this topic: Trade Unions In South Africa
Famous quotes containing the words trade, unions and/or today:
“A nose, kind sir! Sure, Mother Nature,
With all her freaks, ne’er formed this feature.
If such were mine, I’d try and trade it,
And swear the gods had never made it.”
—Susanna Moodie (1803–1885)
“When Hitler attacked the Jews ... I was not a Jew, therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the Catholics, I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the unions and the industrialists, I was not a member of the unions and I was not concerned. Then, Hitler attacked me and the Protestant church—and there was nobody left to be concerned.”
—Martin Niemller (1892–1984)
“It is not their brotherly love but the impotence of their brotherly love that keeps the Christians of today from—burning us.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)