See also the previous cosatu constitution, as amended at the 5th national congress, 1994. A strong labour federation that boasts membership of around 2 million, from unions that cut across both the private and the public sector. Affiliates may come and go but the federation remains constant. Cosatu has played a crucial role in championing democratisation, and it has been a critical voice for workers. I use the story of cosatu to build on a theory of political unionism that is encompasses the various economic, social and political roles of trade unions and their strategic capability in capturing gains for workers. The steinhoff debacle the biggest fraud in sa history tom eaton the times 111217 comments aptly on the manner in which the corporate elite has responded to the steinhoff debacle. Cosatus contested legacy analyses the dilemmas and opportunities of trade unionism in contemporary south africa. We have to make it clear to all that a giant has risen which will confront all who stand in its way as cosatu will not stand for defeat. Book 3 organisational activity report th cosatu national congress consolidated departmental and provincial reports download. The steinhoff debacle the biggest fraud in sa history. Cosatus responses to xenophobia the atlantic philanthropies.
National congress programme download book 1 towards the th national congress minutes resolutions and declaration download book 2 political report and discussion documents download book 3 organisational activity report th cosatu national congress consolidated departmental and provincial reports download book 4 composite resolutions from. Download pdf cosatu s contested legacy free online new. For the purposes of this article, secondary sources, including books, chapters. Twenty years ago in durban, on december 1, 1985, a giant was born. Congress of south african trade unions cosatu south. In this booklet you will find a brief introduction to the history and foundation concepts of leadership research. As a federation, it brought together many of the unions formed after the wave of strikes at the beginning of 1973 which marked a renewal of trade union activity after a decadelong lull. The work here republished was marxs first attempt to explain a section of comtemporary history by means of his materialist conception. Labour law, the varied body of law applied to such matters as employment, remuneration, conditions of work, trade unions, and industrial relations. Its roots lay in the unions which had emerged from the spontaneous 1973 strike wave by black workers in durban and pinetown part of the durban moment. Cosatu aims to block new proposals on strikes hr pulse. Drawing on quantitative data from four time series surveys of union members.
Congress of south african trade unions cosatu the o. Cosatu for a living wage, a workers lra, and the workers charter. The congress of south african trade unions cosatu is a trade union federation in south africa. Starting with the durban strike of 1973 and the founding of fosatu a.
Central executive committee meeting, 30 march 2015 in what seemed a completely unreal way, the central executive committee spent time briefly discussing the treasurys plan for an unemployment insurance fund payment holiday, which cosatu had already opposed. South africa the present as history book description. Access to society journal content varies across our titles. The federation of south african trade unions fosatu was a trade union federation formed at a congress over the weekend of 1415 april 1979 in hammanskraal and officially launched five days later on 20 april. Federation of south african trade unions wikipedia. By vusumuzi kumalo and dineo skosana the history of. As a federation, it brought together many of the unions formed after the wave of strikes at the beginning of 1973 which marked a. Cosatus influence on policymaking in postapartheid. Twenty years of south african democracy freedom house. Cosatu s contested legacy download cosatu s contested legacy ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub, and mobi format.
The fragmentation of an african trade union federation edited by vishwas satgar and roger southall coming soon. In 1994, the first nonracial elections in south africa brought nelson mandela and his african national congress to office. Christopher merrett believes that sakhela buhlungus book on cosatu, a paradox of victory, has come at the perfect time, as it underscores the current shifts in the wider progressive politics that cosatu leads. You can view samples of our professional work here any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of lawteacher. South african trade unions in the second decade of democracy. The different periods of south africas modern capitalist history. Cosatus organising style and the organising principles it has brought to the workers movement over the past ten years have helped make the federation the giant it is today. African studies american studies ancient near east and egypt art history asian studies book history and cartography biblical studies classical studies education history jewish studies literature and cultural studies languages and linguistics media studies middle east and. Congress of south african trade unions cosatu this trade union federation was formed on 30 november 1985 after more than four years of negotiations between, among others, the council of unions of south africa cusa, the federation of south african trade unions fosatu, the azanian congress of trade unions azactu and the sa allied workers union saawu.
On behalf of cosatus 2 million members, i welcome the publication of the future is in the hands of the workers. It was founded in 1985 and is the largest of the countrys three main trade union federations, with 21 affiliated trade unions. We currently have more than two million workers, of whom at least 1. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. It was founded in 1985 and is the largest of the countrys three main. Cde goldberg was a tireless campaigner against the apartheid system and was a tireless champion of social justice. Labour beyond cosatu is the fourth volume in the series taking democracy seriously a groundbreaking, textured and nuanced study on workers and democracy. South african labour scholarship is also dominated by studies of the history of cosatu, its leadership figures and its. Cosatu, the anc and the election strategic than one with cosatu and the sacp. Today the federation has become the standardbearer for south africas workers, and this volume recalls its history, reassess its ideas, and reaffirms the groups commitment to.
The trade union movement and the tripartite alliance. On the other hand, there is the leadership and activist layer of cosatu and the sacp which is committed to a social democratic economy, and which places its hope in the fact that a struggle can still be waged for the heart and soul of the anc. While having to face the challenges to formal employment posed by a rapidly. A brief history of cosatu congress of south african trade unions, matlala, william, vavi, zwelinzima on. Black workers ended up doing the hard manual labour while white workers got the skilled and. This book recalls and records its history, reassesses their ideas, and reaffirms their commitment to defend the working class. Cosatus contested legacy south african trade unions in the. While there is strong disappointment with the government and its leaders. Carefully analyzing the changes that characterize workers political orientations, this study considers the results of a survey of the political attitudes of members of the congress of south african trade unions cosatu undertaken prior to south africas third democratic general election in 2004.
The challenges faced by cosatu within the tripartite alliance. Book 1 towards the th national congress minutes resolutions and. Labour beyond cosatu is the fourth volume in the series taking democracy seriously a. The federation is a structure which remains constant with its own separate legal personality despite changes in membership. Cosatu was launched in december 1985 after four years of unity talks between unions opposed to apartheid and committed to a nonracial, nonsexist and democratic south africa. I examine cosatus political role by creating five analytical categories to study the federations experience. A history of the congress of south african trade unions cosatu could not have. The congress of south african trade unions mourn the death of isithwalandwe cde denis goldberg, an antiapartheid campaigner and a recipient of the isithwalandwe.
The leadership profile tlp is designed to help you gain a better understanding of leadership as well as to help you examine your own leadership effectiveness. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. The book is of interest to all students of labour movements and labour history as cosatu is the leading example globally of social movement. Cosatu congress of south african trade unions cotu congress of trade. Hlanganani basebenzi a brief history of cosatu ngo pulse. This book is a product of an ongoing historical research project conducted by the wits. The article demonstrates that cosatu womens history. This programme traces the regent history of the progressive trade union movement in south africa.
The congress of south african trade unions cosatu was launched on 1 december 1985, at the height of the struggle against apartheid. It is not possible to list all of them here, but we do certainly make mention of some of them. Cosatus contested legacy provides a fresh and uptodate analysis of trade unionism in contemporary south africa by focusing on the congress of. Trade union services and benefits in africa edited by. By vusumuzi kumalo and dineo skosana the history of sadtu. Pdf since its formation in 1985, the congress of south african trade unions.
If you have access to a journal via a society or association membership, please browse to your society journal, select an article to view, and follow the instructions in this box. Network alrn is indebted to all the workers, trade unions, and researchers who contributed to the production of this book. An analysis of the recent debate on allegiance to the tripartite alliance with special reference to cosatu and the anc whether the alliance is a marriage of convenience or not. We send our deepest condolences to his family and his friends. Click download or read online button to cosatu s contested legacy book pdf for free now. This article looks at the transition process in south africa in the early 1990s with a specific focus on the role of cosatu women activists and their involvement in the womens national coalition wnc. Hlanganani basebenzi a brief history of cosatu has been published to celebrate twenty years of the congress of south african trade unions. Twenty years of south african democracy executive summary after 20 years of democracy, south africans celebrate that human rights have been realized and that society is transforming. Nielsen book data summary images of striking cosatu workers, singing, marching and toyitoying are a familiar sight for most south africans and external observers of the countrys. Twenty years ago in durban, on december 1, 1985, the union cosatu was born. Unlike the laws of contract, tort, or property, the. This is not an example of the work produced by our law essay writing service. Key issuessuch as internal union and parliamentary democracy, black empowerment, and the.
The congress of south african trade unions cosatu is briefing lawyers to find ways to block the governments attempts to introduce compulsory interest arbitration. After last weeks cosatu strike against labour brokers and etolling the question of the future of the relationship between. Notes on the relationship between cosatu and the anc. In its most comprehensive sense, the term includes social security and disability insurance as well. This is a reflection of the authors positionality with his history as a participant and observer of the south african trade union movement pvii, as well as, his current location as a professor of sociology. The volume brings into sharp relief the contestation that union activists engage in as they seek to chart a future trajectory for trade unionism. Notes on the relationship between cosatu and the anc nic. Cosatu congress of south african trade unions cotu congress of trade unions kenya. At our launch we represented less than half a million workers organised in 33 unions. Corruption, cosatu, forecasting, history, hivaids, industrial relations, jacob zuma, julius malema, labour market, macroeconomics, mangaung, sacp, unemployment. Book 4 composite resolutions from unions towards the cosatu th. Elijah baray, the first president of cosatu on december 1, 1985, the congress of south african trade unions cosatu the largest federation of trade unions in south africa, was formed.
Since its formation in 1985, the congress of south african trade unions cosatu had played a significant role in the political landscape of south africa. Deftly presenting a picture of a multifaceted and everevolving organization whose members are steeped in the traditions of internal democracy, leadership accountability, and mandated decisionmaking, this volume considers the complexities of the congress of south african trade unions cosatu. Thousands of workers laid down their lives for basic trade union rights and the franchise as a cherished human right. Cosatus contested legacy provides a fresh and uptodate analysis of trade unionism in contemporary south africa by focusing on the congress of south african trade unions, the largest and most powerful federation. Pdf striking back a history of cosatu with new introduction.
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