Role of Trade Unions in South Africa
The essence of the discussion is to outline the role of trade unions from its traditional role as compared to its role now in contemporary times most notably in post-Apartheid South Africa. One aims to look at how trade unions have coped with the changing nature of work as the traditional role of the worker has evolved over time, as there is an influx of more casualized labour. The impact of globalization on trade unions also has to be examined and how it has affected their traditional role .The question this piece tries to answer henceforth is whether Trade unions have forgotten the interests of the workers and have these interests been undertaken by social movements.
To start the debate one would have to first understand the role of trade unions. Trade unions are essentially organizations that are formed by workers in the workplace to advance their collective interests (Webster et al 2003). The basis of trade unions is to regulate the inequality of power relations in the work place amongst employers and employees. The sociological role of trade unions according to Webster is to regulate workplace relations in a manner that is beneficial to its members. Webster goes on to say that regulating workplace struggles does not take the defensive dimension only but it also takes a radical one (Webster et al 2003). A radical change is of importance here as it seeks to change the balance of power in favour of the workers. The radical change would also highlight that a further role of Trade Unions is in politics or political movements. In South Africa trade unions have played a key role in the democratization process of the country as this affords them a mass following and a political clout (G Wood 2002). It is generally recognized that Cosatu adopted a social movement role by combining workplace organization with the methods and wider aims of a social movement (G Wood 2002).
Closely linked to the role of the of trade unions one has to understand the ideology which was
To start the debate one would have to first understand the role of trade unions. Trade unions are essentially organizations that are formed by workers in the workplace to advance their collective interests (Webster et al 2003). The basis of trade unions is to regulate the inequality of power relations in the work place amongst employers and employees. The sociological role of trade unions according to Webster is to regulate workplace relations in a manner that is beneficial to its members. Webster goes on to say that regulating workplace struggles does not take the defensive dimension only but it also takes a radical one (Webster et al 2003). A radical change is of importance here as it seeks to change the balance of power in favour of the workers. The radical change would also highlight that a further role of Trade Unions is in politics or political movements. In South Africa trade unions have played a key role in the democratization process of the country as this affords them a mass following and a political clout (G Wood 2002). It is generally recognized that Cosatu adopted a social movement role by combining workplace organization with the methods and wider aims of a social movement (G Wood 2002).
Closely linked to the role of the of trade unions one has to understand the ideology which was
Bibliography: 1)Baskin J. 1991. Striking Back: A history of COSATU. Johannesburg : Ravan Press 2)Ballard R, .Social Movements in Post-Aparthied South Africa: An Introduction. 3)Bikisha Media Collective, 2006.Class Struggles in South Africa: from Apartheid To Neo Liberalism. http://www.zabalaza.net./texts/pam_class.htm 4)Webster E, Buhlungu S, Bezuidenhout, 2003.Work and Organizations .New York: Oxford University Press. 5)Wood ,G. 2002. “The politics of trade unions in transition: the case of the Congress of South African Trade Unions”. Contemporary Politics. vol 8(2). 6)Afro news. South African unions face globalization 10 April 2001. http:www.afrol.com./News2001/sa019_globalisation_lab.htm