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… The exploitation of workers was a feature of life in South Africa for decades. Apartheid thrived on cheap labour: workers had to contend with the migrant labour system, passes … or profession freely). Key Constitutional judgments SA National Defence Union v Minister of Defence (1999) ( read …

… Solomon (Solly) Sachs , this was a union of women factory workers that transcended barriers of colour and class.  In … was reflected in the formation of the Transvaal Garment Workers Union (GWU). Jobs for women in factories were … poorly paid and of low status.  Before 1928, women workers were not represented on any union committees. The …

… resolved to form a nationwide Industrial and Commercial Workers Union of South Africa (ICWU). Sam Masabalala, who … a branch of the ICWU and soon they had a following of 4000 workers.  Msimang played a vital role in the formation of … Industrial and Commercial Workers Union …

… of a union. Two months later, the Metal and Allied Workers Union (MAWU), with the assistance of the GFWBF, was … the registered National Union of Motor Assembly and Rubber Workers of South Africa (NUMARWOSA) and its parallel the United Automobile, Rubber and Allied Workers Union (UAW) which would later prove critical in the …

… "C, B. I. Joins Workers' Party". …

… The Sweet Workers’ Union (SWU) originated as an offshoot of the short-lived Women Workers’ Union, founded by Fanny Klenerman in the mid-1920s, … secretary of the SWU in 1942, helped to organise the workers across racial lines, resulting in the African Sweet … The Sweet Workers’ Union …

… NUSAS students set up the General Factory Workers Benefit Fund (GFWBF) in 1972. They worked closely … of the GFWBF was, through worker organisations, to make workers aware of their rights through its in house paper, … Fund (UIF) and Workmen’s Compensation. The General Factory Workers Benefit Fund (GFWBF) was started up with a loan from …

… The General Factory Workers Benefit Fund (GFWBF) was formed on 9 September 1972 … activist. During this period it was illegal for black workers to belong to a registered trade union, as a consequence black workers joined the benefit fund as it functioned as a cover …

… The Metal and Allied Workers Union (MAWU) was established in April 1973 in with the assistance of the General Factory Workers Benefit Fund (GFWBF). It was launched in … two years of fighting for recognition and being denied, workers at Sarmcol from Mpophomeni Township went on strike on …

… The Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) was founded in 1973. It organised in the … a direct response to the Transvaal-based PUTCO bus company workers’ strike of June 1972. TGWU’s headquarters were in … PUTCO and in Port Elizabeth where it also assisted white workers. It affiliated itself to the Trade Union Advisory and …

… overshadowed by the more dynamic Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU), founded in Cape Town in 1919. … including in its membership skilled as well as unskilled workers from industry and the agricultural sector. Unlike the … More fundamental problems pertained to the fact that many workers were migrants and therefore not totally committed to …

… The 1946 mine workers' strike was led by the African Mine Workers Union, whose president was J.B.Marks, he was also a leader in the South African Communist Party. Black workers were introduced to trade unionism by the early … Birth of the African Mine Workers’ Union …

… The Sweet Food and Allied Workers Union (SFAWU) was established in 1974 with the help … 1982, it had succeeded in organizing 100 per cent of the workers in the factories that fell within its sector. SFAWU … Trade Unions  (FOSATU). In 1986 the Food and Canning Workers’ Union (FCWU) joined forces with the SFAWU to form …

… The Paper Wood and Allied Workers Union (PWAWU) was formed on 31 May 1974 in Springs, … its leading figures was Aninka Claassens. PWAWU organised workers in the paper and pulp, paper printing and packaging, … breaking down ethnic divisions between Mpondo and Zulu workers in Natal. …

… 1922 Army quells miners' strike, killing 214 1941 African workers formed the African Mine Workers Union 1943 In order to stave off the growing unrest among the African mine workers, the regime appointed a Commission of Enquiry 1946 … 1946 Mine Workers Strike timeline 1867-1987 …

… most significant examples of industrial action by black workers in South Africa. Following the demise of the ICU in … Workers Union, the CPSA, white liberals, members of the SA Institute of Race Relations and the Friends of Africa. … for supporting the strike. White unionists, members of the SA Trades and Labour Council (SATLC) were divided over the …

… in the Western Cape make up the highest number of workers in South Africa in the fruit and wine industry. In 2012, out of an estimated 603 000 farm workers were employed in South Africa; the Western Cape had … and Transvaal Agricultural Union of South Africa (TAU-SA). During the negotiations, Mildred Oliphant announced the …

… the late 1970s and early 1980s the issue of drawing up a Workers’ Charter became a leading item on the agenda of the … Charter did not sufficiently cover the interests of workers. For example, the Freedom Charter did not include one … national liberation but not for an end to capitalism. A Workers’ Charter was proposed as a more radical alternative …

… (now known as KwaZulu Natal – KZN) saw a proliferation of workers’ culture. Trade unions partnered with cultural workers to create plays that addressed issues faced by workers, supported protest action and bolstered worker unity. … Natal Workers’ Theatre in the 1980s …

… representative of TUCSA. Under pressure from the Garment Workers Industrial Union (GWIU) executive committee because of her involvement with organising African workers, Harriet chose to resign from the GWIU in 1974. By … at Currie’s Fountain on 23February 1971, more than 24 000 workers walked out of clothing factories in Natal, …

… The Mine Workers Strike - 1946 …

… Industrial and Commercial Workers Union …

… Chemical Workers Industrial Union (CWIU) …

… Black Allied Workers Union (BAWU) …

… In 1965, membership of the GWIU was made up of 6648 male workers and 6715 female workers. By 1967 this had grown to 7582 female workers, while the number of males dropped to 6420. Indian … Indian women workers, Durban’s clothing industry and the GWIU …

… founded as CCAWUSA (The Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union of South Africa) in 1975, with Emma Mashinini   … between Cape Liquor and Catering, Hotel and Restaurant Workers Union (HARWU) and Retail and Allied Workers Union (RAWU) in 1989. This was in response to a …

… National Union of Textile Workers (NUTW) …

… Acronyms BAWU, Black and Allied Workers Union COSAS , Congress of South African Students … , Congress of South African Trade Unions CWIU, Chemical Workers Industrial Union CWLP, Culture and Working Life … DTMB, Durban Transport Managemnet Board DWCL, Durban Workers Cultural Local FAWU, food and Allied Workers Union …