South African Trade Union responses to xenophobia in workplaces: the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA)
- Authors: Gongqa, Nombulelo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Xenophobia , Xenophobia-- South Africa , National Union of Mineworkers , National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa , Labor unions -- South Africa , Immigrants -- South Africa , Marginality, Social -- South Africa , Social conflict -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/115061 , vital:34074
- Description: This research looks at how trade unions relate to immigrants and how inclusive they are to immigrants who form part of the South African working class. South Africa has been an immigrants receiving country for decades, where most immigrants are from neighbouring countries within the South African region. It was the trade unions that empowered workers to gain back some of their basic rights during the apartheid era, and they did this for all workers who worked in sectors where they were exploited and mistreated by the apartheid regime on the basis of their skin colour. This research aims to understand how trade unions respond to xenophobia in the workplace, and the ways their strategies increase inclusion of immigrants in the trade unions. This research focuses on the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), seeking to find whether they have strategies and planned ways to respond to xenophobia in South African workplaces. This research also looks at the impact of nationalism in South Africa on immigrants. It shows that whilst the concept of nationalism is to protect South Africans, it does exclude immigrants because it places South Africans before immigrants when it comes to benefiting from the resources of the country. This shows that protecting one section of the working class over another weakens the working class movement. To get views from the trade unions, trade union officials were interviewed and from the interviews, common themes were picked out. From the interviews, it can be identified that trade union officials believe that immigrants should be included in the trade unions, and they should be treated with dignity. However, there are some conflicting themes, which highlight the view that South African locals deserve to get the resources of the country, such as housing, before immigrants. The themes will be discussed in the research to highlight the different perspectives that came from the trade union officials.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Gongqa, Nombulelo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Xenophobia , Xenophobia-- South Africa , National Union of Mineworkers , National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa , Labor unions -- South Africa , Immigrants -- South Africa , Marginality, Social -- South Africa , Social conflict -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/115061 , vital:34074
- Description: This research looks at how trade unions relate to immigrants and how inclusive they are to immigrants who form part of the South African working class. South Africa has been an immigrants receiving country for decades, where most immigrants are from neighbouring countries within the South African region. It was the trade unions that empowered workers to gain back some of their basic rights during the apartheid era, and they did this for all workers who worked in sectors where they were exploited and mistreated by the apartheid regime on the basis of their skin colour. This research aims to understand how trade unions respond to xenophobia in the workplace, and the ways their strategies increase inclusion of immigrants in the trade unions. This research focuses on the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), seeking to find whether they have strategies and planned ways to respond to xenophobia in South African workplaces. This research also looks at the impact of nationalism in South Africa on immigrants. It shows that whilst the concept of nationalism is to protect South Africans, it does exclude immigrants because it places South Africans before immigrants when it comes to benefiting from the resources of the country. This shows that protecting one section of the working class over another weakens the working class movement. To get views from the trade unions, trade union officials were interviewed and from the interviews, common themes were picked out. From the interviews, it can be identified that trade union officials believe that immigrants should be included in the trade unions, and they should be treated with dignity. However, there are some conflicting themes, which highlight the view that South African locals deserve to get the resources of the country, such as housing, before immigrants. The themes will be discussed in the research to highlight the different perspectives that came from the trade union officials.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The impact of declining trade union membership on collective bargaining
- Authors: Nombembe, Vuyani
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Labor unions -- South Africa , Collective bargaining -- South Africa Industrial relations -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42814 , vital:36694
- Description: Trade unions play an important role in the South African labour relations. Power relations in the workplace favour the employers in terms of decision-making due to the resources that employers have at their disposal, as compared to single employees. In order for employees to be at par with employers during collective bargaining, they join or form trade unions. In South Africa for example, the apartheid government was against trade unions as they were viewed as a threat to the hegemony of the apartheid regime. The democratic dispensation that was ushered in, 1994, sought to change that through a tripartite arrangement between employees, employers and the government. This was done to ensure that trade unions become part of the decision making process on workplace related matters. The South African Constitution of 1996 states that every employee has the right to form and join a trade union and participate in the activities and programmes of a trade union. Trade unions are also able to influence policy related decisions as they participate in decision-making bodies like the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Government has enacted legislation that gives effect to the rights that are enshrined in the Constitution. Through protection afforded by legislation, trade unions are able to recruit members in different sectors and with sufficient sector representation are able to form sector specific Bargaining Councils with Employers’ Organisations representing such sectors, that are able to negotiate terms and conditions of employment for employees in that sector. This study considers and evaluates the rights conferred to trade unions by the Constitution and legislation. The study focuses on the impact of dwindling trade union membership numbers on collective bargaining in South Africa and makes a brief comparison with the European Union (EU). It examines the history of trade unions and the causes of the reduction of trade union membership numbers in South Africa and the EU. Case law is considered in order to gain an understanding of the changing collective bargaining landscape in South Africa. Consideration is given to some of the challenges faced by trade unions in seeking new members and this study makes recommendations of measures that could be put in place to assist trade unions increase their presence in the workplace.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Nombembe, Vuyani
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Labor unions -- South Africa , Collective bargaining -- South Africa Industrial relations -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42814 , vital:36694
- Description: Trade unions play an important role in the South African labour relations. Power relations in the workplace favour the employers in terms of decision-making due to the resources that employers have at their disposal, as compared to single employees. In order for employees to be at par with employers during collective bargaining, they join or form trade unions. In South Africa for example, the apartheid government was against trade unions as they were viewed as a threat to the hegemony of the apartheid regime. The democratic dispensation that was ushered in, 1994, sought to change that through a tripartite arrangement between employees, employers and the government. This was done to ensure that trade unions become part of the decision making process on workplace related matters. The South African Constitution of 1996 states that every employee has the right to form and join a trade union and participate in the activities and programmes of a trade union. Trade unions are also able to influence policy related decisions as they participate in decision-making bodies like the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Government has enacted legislation that gives effect to the rights that are enshrined in the Constitution. Through protection afforded by legislation, trade unions are able to recruit members in different sectors and with sufficient sector representation are able to form sector specific Bargaining Councils with Employers’ Organisations representing such sectors, that are able to negotiate terms and conditions of employment for employees in that sector. This study considers and evaluates the rights conferred to trade unions by the Constitution and legislation. The study focuses on the impact of dwindling trade union membership numbers on collective bargaining in South Africa and makes a brief comparison with the European Union (EU). It examines the history of trade unions and the causes of the reduction of trade union membership numbers in South Africa and the EU. Case law is considered in order to gain an understanding of the changing collective bargaining landscape in South Africa. Consideration is given to some of the challenges faced by trade unions in seeking new members and this study makes recommendations of measures that could be put in place to assist trade unions increase their presence in the workplace.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
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