Update on COSATU into industrially based unions.
Another merger well under way is in the paper, wood and printing industry. Sector meetings between the Paper, Wood and Allied Workers' Union (PWAWU), GAWU and SAAWU began long before COSATU's launch, and PWAWU general secretary Jeremy Baskin described the spirit of the talks as "very positive"
WE ARE publishing two articles dealing with aspects of trade-union organization in South Africa. They first appeared in a pamphlet devoted to the trade-union movement, published by the South African
Students Press Union. This organization brings together Black journalism students, involved in the democratic movement. The pamphlet,
SASPU Focus May Day Special reproduced the positions and the objectives of the trade-union leadership of the Congress of South
African Trade Unions [COSATU].
One industry, one union
WALK INTO any union office and you'll hear talk of "mergers"
sector talks"
new "industrial unions".
because COSATU committed itself - first national congress - to industrial unions in each
The resolution operating in the same sector to form new industrially calls for new unions in sectors where and construction, and agri-
But what will this really mean, general unions, like the General and
Allied Workers' Union (GAWU) and
Allied Workers' Union workers in many different industries?
Their members will now be passed over to new industrial unions.
general secretary, doesn't see as a problem.
He feels GAWU has always been committed to industrial unions: "We are very enthusiastic about this development. GAWU will be by members moving out to other unions - but we don't see this as a
"Rather we see it as a step towards what we believe in. It is in the broad interests of the workers.
International Viewpoint 16 June 1986 bigger industrial unions and power of the working class as a whole."
One merger which is well on the five unions are involved: the Food and
Workers' Union (FCWU), and Allied Workers'
Union (SFAWU), the Retail
Union (RAWU),
SAAWU and GAWU.
FCWU General
Theron, explains why it was essential to have a strong industrial union union must speak for all the workers with one voice. If we are organizing workers in the bakeries, organize workers in the mills which
Because, after all, company which owns the bakeries new food union, which expected to be launched by the end of May, will be one of the biggest in the country.
president Chris Dlamini points out that the combined membership of the unions in the food industry is 50,000 members. But, by the end of the year, to be over 60,000.
Membership figures are growing all the time, especially since the forma-
COSATU. Three months after COSATU's formation, paid-up membership in SFAWU has from 19,000 to 23,000 members.
massive membership increases.
Naidoo, COSATU's
650,000 - 150,000 up from the
These unions were due to meet at the end of April to set deadlines and a programme for the forthcoming merger.
One important development is a new municipal, local government and public administration union, where three sector meetings have been held
Unions involved are the Cape Town Municipal Workers' Union (CTMWA), Municipal Workers' Unions of SA (MWUSA), Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU), and SAAWU
TGWU is due to merge with the General Workers' Union [GWU] at the end of May and the new union will work out how the different sectors are best organized. going evaluation of the viability of the different industrial sectors.
Organizers and trade-union officials
How will the change to industrial unions affect members, especially of the general unions? Masondo believes that because of the democratic nature of all the unions affiliated to COSATU this is not likely to be a problem.
"GAWU has been and continues to be a democratic union. This means that all the workers have been sulted and informed about the new development"