Trade Unions In South Africa

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DEFINITION
Trade unions are independent organisations that represent workers to their employers. If you join a trade union, you are joining a group that will negotiate workplace issues such as salary, hours of work, and other conditions, on your behalf.
HISTORY OF TRADE UNIONS
Trade unions began in the 1880s and were legally reserved for whites only in South Africa. Organizations such as the South African Confederation of Labour (SACoL) supported employment policies that favoured white workers. In 1917 the Industrial Workers of Africa (IWA) was the first trade union established to uplift black workers. In 1919 IWA merged with the Industrial and Commercial Workers' Union of Africa (ICU), formed in 1919, in 1920. By the 1930s the South African …show more content…

• dismantling apartheid legislation and practices in the workplace
• making employers appreciate the benefits of negotiating with employees
• to represent black workers' interests more vigorously
• developing political and economic resistance to the government which led to abolishing apartheid
• creating political and economic unrest in the form of strikes to bring about democracy
PERSONAL OPINION
Trade unions are a necessary component of a successful business for the employer and a fulfilling workplace for employees. Trade unions ensure that all aspects of working life should be the subject of discussion and agreement between employers and employees who are protected by a trade union. A worker stands a better chance of getting what they want from being a member of a trade union as a group is more influential than an individual.
Trade unions provide negotiators who have the best interest of the employee. Trade unions provide workers with trained personnel that can be informed about a disciplinary procedure or a grievance with the employer to provide advice and support to the worker. Trade unions can legally represent you in cases of unfair dismissals; pay cuts; pension disputes; sex, race and disability discrimination; harassment and bullying in the …show more content…

These trade union federations are working to eradicate current government issues such as economic inequality and inadequate social welfare. Trade unions face the challenge of producing working class prosperity and greater economic equality because; trade union leaders are too close to management and willing to compromise workers’ needs according to a number of workers. Consequently, trade unions have decreased their engagement with workers since the apartheid era and statistics show that they are higher levels of distrust in trade unions throughout the working class of South

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