South African unions pay tribute to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela3 April, 2018“When you strike a woman, you strike a rock” is a popular slogan from the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, and a call to action on women’s rights in the country. On April 2 one of the rocks of that struggle fell when Winnie Madikizela-Mandela died aged 81.
Scrap labour law amendment bills, say unions in South Africa23 March, 2018In a carnival-like atmosphere IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) took to the streets of Johannesburg protesting proposed amendments to the labour laws, which the union says will reverse the hard-won gains on workers’ rights. NUMSA has called for a general strike on April 25 to defend the right to strike.
South Africa: Zara accused of design theft29 April, 2018The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU), an affiliate of the IndustriALL Global Union, has condemned Zara’s fashion piracy after it emerged that the Spanish-based global brand produced designs with a strong similarity to a local designer’s collection.
South Africa: Transformation too slow for women mineworkers6 September, 2017IndustriALL affiliate, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), organized a women’s march to the Chamber of Mines in Johannesburg on 26 August, to protest the slow pace of transformation and empowerment for women working in the mines.
South Africa: Coalminers give notice to strike15 November, 2017Coalminers in South Africa belonging to IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), will give notice to strike on 16 November after wage negotiations with the Chamber of Mines have reached a deadlock. Miners were demanding a one off payment of US$77. Further, they wanted an eight per cent increase in 2018, and nine per cent in 2019.
SACTWU protests in defense of local manufacturing6 November, 2017On 4 November, Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU), affiliated to IndustriALL, organized a nationwide protest against clothing giants H&M and Zara.
IndustriALL affiliates celebrate Africa Industrialization Day – 201722 November, 2017Several events were held in conjunction with Africa Industrialization Day, 2017.
South Africa: Thousands of workers support national strike28 September, 2017Thousands of workers took to the streets and marched in 13 towns across South Africa in support of a national strike against state capture and corruption on 27 September. The strike, which was a protected strike in terms of the law, was called by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). IndustriALL affiliates the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers Union, National Union of Mineworkers, and the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union took part in the strike.
1,700 jobs under threat at South Africa gold mine14 July, 2016IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), says it is determined to fight the retrenchment 1,702 jobs at the Cooke 4 gold and uranium mine in South Africa.
BRICS unions discuss decent work and sustainable development31 July, 2018The BRICS Trade Union Forum (BTUF), an alliance of union federations from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is demanding a developmental and democratic model as an alternative to the dominant global financial institutions, especially the IMF and the World Bank.
