The workers' struggle in South Africa

Abstract

Since the early 1970s a new wave of independent non‐racial trade unionism has grown up inside South Africa. It has organised well over 250,000 black workers, built up its own cadres of trained and accountable officials and shops stewards, won scores of recognition agreements with managements, conducted numerous and often successful strike actions, and has significantly improved the wages and conditions of its members. These unions have quietly emerged as a major force for change inside the country.