Black unions making gains for members

Press, 28 November 1979, Page 20

Black unions making gains for members

From the “Economist,” London

Black workers in South Africa have recently won three remarkable victories through industrial action. • Some 600 workers at a Ford plant in Port Elizabeth downed tools for three days this month when a clerical worker resigned under management pressure. He had refused to give up his activities in a local black political group, which was under security police surveillance. Not only did the man get his job back, but the company paid the strikers in full for the three days they were out — in marked contrast to the normal practice in South Africa of mass dismissals in

such circumstances. Ford’s conciliatory approach to the dispute, and its policy of black job advancement have provoked hostility from its white workers. • Monis and Fattis, a pasta, bread and flour manufacturer, surrendered completely after an eight-month consumer boycott. The boycott started when the black Food and Canning Workers’ Union in the Cape charged that 50 workers had been sacked because they supported the union. Black and Coloured shopkeepers helped make the boycott effective by refusing to stock M. and F. products. The com-

pany agreed to take back all the "men in their original jobs. • Dura Construction, a Dutch subsidiary in the Cape, caved in to worker demands only days before it was due to contest them in the courts. An allegation by 42 black migrant workers from the Transkei that Dura had paid them only 57 South African cents an hour (SNZO.7O), although it had promised them 77 cents, was backed by the Western Province Genera! Workers’ Union. They sued for R 12.200. At first Dura refused even to meet the black union for talks, but after pressure from Dura workers in the Netherlands, the company paid the workers’ claim, plus two

years’ interest and legal costs. In the meantime, five black unions have applied for Government registration under the new labour law. Eight established white and Coloured unions have asked for permission to enrol blacks. In addition, a dozen independent black unions in the Federation of South African Trade Unions (Fosatu), one of the main black union groupings, have reluctantly decided to apply for registration, if they can get their way on a few points. They want to ensure, for example, that unions which have hitherto been operating throughout a particular industry will not bo

forced to split up to cover sections of that industry (e.g. motor repair and motor assembly). The group has until now opposed registration on the ground that it invites greater State control. But member unions are finding that companies will not grant recognition to unregistered unions. And, says Fosatu, the past two months have seen an unprecedented number of companies actively encouraging white unions to set up “parallel” black branches in their factories, so as to outflank independent black unions.

Managements see the parallel black unions as likely to be less militant. White and Coloured unions see them

as a way of limiting competition for skilled jobs from black workers, now that legal job restrictions are on the way out.

A parallel union, set up by a Coloured union at management invitation, has recently defeated an independent black union at Leyland’s car factory. Others are being organised in lighter industries such as the liquor, brewing and catering trades, and in furniture manufacturing. Meanwhile, independent black unions are now trying to organise workers at such firms as Coca-Cola, Unilever, Raleigh Cycles, and Fagersta Steels (a Swedish subsidiary).