New labour federation and the gender question

Asanda Benya — 2017-10-16T08:42:17Z

In April 2017 we saw the launch of the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu). At inception, it became the second largest federation in South Africa, with 24 affiliates and about 700 000 members. Some people have seen the emergence of this new federation as signaling a new dawn for worker representation, control and democracy. Others have seen it as presenting a new political praxis, reaching out to informal workers and the vulnerable, unorganised workers who constitute 76% of the total workforce. In the words of its first general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, it is a “broad labour front” which takes seriously outsourced workers, those in the informal sector, the unemployed and students. It even goes as far as accommodating pensioners and retirees. [1].

- IV513 - October 2017 / Trade unions/workplace organizing, South Africa

International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine

New labour federation and the gender question