The Challenges Facing the South African Labour Movement

Abstract

There is a growing body of literature on the role and impact of unions in the developing world, and on their ability to mobilize members against a background of neo-liberal reforms. The South African trade union movement represents a source of inspiration to organized labour worldwide, but has faced many challenges over the years. This article engages with debates on union solidarity and worker democracy, and draws on the findings of a nationwide survey of members of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) to explore the extent of fragmentation according to gender, age, skill level and ethnicity. The survey reveals regular participation in union affairs, democratic accountability, participation in collective action, and a strong commitment to the labour movement, but variation in levels of engagement between categories of union members indicates significant implications for union policy and practice.

The challenges and future of trade unionism in Algeria: a lost cause?

“…In the past, a number of researchers studied employment relations in Africa (see Buhlungu et al, 2008;Etukudo, 1995;Fashoyin and Matanmi, 1996;Goodman, 1969;Hagglund, 1994) and African countries, such as Mozambique (Dibben, 2010;Dibben and Nadin, 2011;Webster et al, 2006a;Webster et al, 2006b), Ghana (Gray, 1980), Kenya (Henley, 1978), Tanzania (Fischer, 2013) Swaziland (Simelane, 2008), Nigeria (Fajana, 2008), Zambia (Fashoyin, 2008), and Namibia (Klerck, 2008). In particular, a considerable body of literature has investigated employment relations and unions in South Africa (see Albertyn and Rycroft, 1995;Anstey, 1993;Buhlungu, 2009;Butcher and Rouse, 2001;Dibben et al, 2012;Hirschsohn, 1998Hirschsohn, , 2007Maller, 1994;Von Holdt, 2002;Von Holdt and Webster, 2008;Wood, 2002;Wood and Dibben, 2008;Wood and Glaister, 2008). However, little research has been carried out on trade union activities in north Africa in general or Algeria in particular, apart from the studies by Branine and colleagues (Branine, 1994(Branine, , 2002Branine et al, 2008).…”