African Studies


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South Africa
Economic Development, Environment, Health, and Labor




  • South African Labor Movements

    • The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
      "The Congress of South African Trade Unions was founded in 1985 and has since then been in the forefront of the struggle for workers' rights and against apartheid. COSATU is a partner in the Tripartite Alliance consisting of the African National Congress and the South African Communist Party. There are currently 20 trade unions affiliated to COSATU, with a combined membership of over 1.75 million.
      - COSATU Home Page
      - The Shopsteward. (Online) -- Johannesburg: The Congress of South African Trade Unions, 1995-
      Warning: A paid subscription is required to download the most recent online issue. This site does offer selected monthly or bi-monthly issues up to 2003 -- in PDF format.
      - Labour Links
      Links to information about COSATU affiliates, other SA labor organizations, and labor organizations in other parts of Africa and worldwide.
      - South African Democratic Teacher's Union (documents, web links for teaching & organizations)
      - Full list of COSATU affiliates
      - See also: Home pages of the National Union of Metalworkers and National Union of Mineworkers below.

    • National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA):
      - NUMSA Home Page
      - NUMSA News
      - NUMSA Congress Resolutions, 1987--
      "In May 1987, NUMSA was formed. It merged four different unions: Metal & Allied Workers Union; Motor Industry Combined Workers Union; National Automobile & Allied Workers Union; and, United Metal, Mining & Allied Workers of South Africa. Two other metal workers associations belonging to COSATU joined soon thereafter: General & Allied Workers Union; and, Transport & General Workers Union."

    • National Union of Mineworkers (NUM):
      NUM Home Page | NUM Publications & News
      "The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) was formed in 1982 and represents approximately 357,000 members in the mining and electrical energy industries, the vast majority of the unionised workforce. Since its inception, the issues of wages, racial discrimination and health and safety have been the pivots of its campaigns for improved conditions for mine and energy workers. The NUM is the largest recognised collective bargaining agent representing workers in the mining industry and the electrical energy industry. Nationally, the NUM is affiliated to the Congress of South African Trade Unions and internationally to the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM)."