Documents: Africans Acting Alone

DOCUMENT 49b-2. Revised Constitu­tion of the I.C.U., 1925 [Extracts] (Printed, 40 pages)

1. Name

The name of the Organisation shall be the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union of Africa, herein referred to as the I.C.U., which shall cater for the following sections under its aegis: Municipal Workers, Waterside Workers, Miner Workers, Building Workers, Agricultural Workers, Marine Workers, Transport Workers, Railway Workers, Factory Workers, Domestic Workers, Warehouse Workers and its Reg­istered Head Office shall be at Cape Town, South Africa.

2. Preamble

Whereas the interest of the workers and those of the employers are opposed to each other, the former living by selling their labour, receiving for it only part of the wealth they produce; and the latter living by exploiting the labour of the workers; depriving the workers of a part of the product of their labour in the form of profit, no peace can be between the two classes, a struggle must always obtain about the division of the products of human labour, until the workers through their industrial organisations take from the capitalist class the means of pro­duction, to be owned and controlled by the workers for the benefit of all, instead of for the profit of a few. Under such a system he who does not work, neither shall he eat. The basis of remuneration shall be the principle, from every man according to his abilities, to every man according to his needs. This is the goal for which the I.C.U. strives along with all other organised workers throughout the world. Further this Organisation does not foster or encourage antagonism towards other established bodies, political or otherwise, of African peoples, or of organised European Labour.

3. Objects

The objects of the I.C.U. shall include:-

(a) To regulate the wages and conditions of labour, and to foster the best interests of its members in their different spheres of occupation, irrespective of sex.
(b) To provide legal assistance to the Organisation, and to its members in matters connected with their daily employment.
(c) To establish sick, unemployment, old age, and death benefits for its members.
(d) To take shares in any syndicate approved by the National Council, or the Board of Arbitration, and to establish such commercial enterprises as may be deemed necessary for the progress of the Organisation and its members.
(e) To establish Branches of the Orga­nisation throughout the African Continent.
(f) To become attached to, or to fed­erate with other Unions, and to be repre­sented on public bodies or other Unions.
(g) To establish Clubs, Debating Soci­eties, etc., with the object of educating the workers, especially on Labour Questions.
(h) To publish pamphlets, newspapers, or any other literature that may be deemed necessary by the National Council or the Board of Arbitration, for the material and spiritual welfare of the members of the Organisation.
(i) To impose levies upon its members to carry out the foregoing objects and for such other National purposes as the National Council may from time to time decide.
(j) All monies expended for any or all of the foregoing objects shall be deemed the capital or current expenditure of the Organisa­tion.

4. Membership

(a) Persons desirous of enrolling in the I.C.U. shall pay an entrance fee at the time of application for enrollment, a weekly contribution as herein laid down, and such other levies as the National Council may impose when deemed necessary.
(b) Europeans are eligible for mem­bership, but under no circumstance shall such member hold office in this Organisation.
(c) Persons wishing to become Hon­orary members must have their application proposed, seconded, and carried by a majority vote of the members of the Branch to which the application is made.
(d) Honorary members will be admitted to all meetings of their Branch, and may by permission of the Chairman of such Branch speak upon any question, but will not be allowed to vote.
(e) Honorary members shall pay a yearly contribution of not less than five shillings, but shall not be entitled to any benefits.

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