Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 9. 1ts May 1973
Africans denied any trade union organisation
Africans denied any trade union organisation
Africans are confined to the migratory labour system which denies them the right to stay with their families near the industrial areas. Under this system they have no right to choose the kind of job they wish to do, or to decide for themselves to seek a better paid job. They are restricted to the compounds with no right to visits by their families except by the permission of the authorities. As Africans they have no right to form a recognised trade union. Under the Industrial Conciliation Act of 1924 and the Industrial Conciliation Act of 1956, the African Trade Unions are not recognised since the African workers are not employees in terms of the 1924 Act. This means that Africans have no recognised negotiating machinery. As a result, they never have a representative at the meetings where agreements are negotiated and decided upon by the employers and registered trade unions. Agreements are always extended to cover them.
The result of this non-representation is low wages, misery and hardship for the African workers. This is of course proof that the distribution of income in South Africa is highly unequal. There is probably no other country in the world where the distribution of income is so unequal. Africans constitute 70% of the population and receive less than 20% of all income. Whites account for less than 19% of the population and receive 74% of the total income.
There can be no voluntary change in the low wage structure until the African workers are accepted as employees in terms of the Industrial Conciliation Acts of 1924 and 1956, and can thus enjoy the same rights as other workers enjoy. This is a fundamental issue which cannot be confined to wages only, since other restrictions are imposed on the movements and the advancement of the African people. It is an issue which reduces the African to a modern slave in South Africa, This gives rise to the question of the role which the white workers play in attempting to bring the African workers to the same status which they themselves enjoy. The answer to this question can be found in the way in which the white workers in South Africa support the present Government on issues such as the Pass Laws, the various labour legislation, the Industrial Conciliation Act of 1956, the migratory labour system, detention under the 180 day and 90 day laws and the Terrorism Act, which terrorises anyone who does not support Apartheid and discrimination.
Some organisations stand against this treatment of the black people. Some church leaders, teachers' organisations, and the Black Sash organisation in South Africa have protested against the treatment of the African people. The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, the International Labour Organisation, the World Federation of Trade Unions, the British Trade Union Congress, the N.Z. Federation of Labour, the French C.G.T. and many international organisations have protested against the treatment of the African people in South Africa. A few whites support the African people, but at no stage have the white trade unions ever raised their voice against this kind of treatment.
Finally, it is our opinion that the white trade unions in South Africa have, to the embarrassment and shame of the World Trade Union Movement accepted the division of workers on colour lines. This is a tragedy for the working people of South Africa.
It is our belief that any New Zealand worker emigrating to South Africa will in fact help entrench and expand the policy of Apartheid for the enslavement of the African people.
Our appeal to the international Trade Union Movement is to follow up the resolutions and decisions taken by various trade union movements and to campaign against investments and emigration and for the isolation of South Africa in sports.