Browsing by Author "Alexander, Peter, 1953-"

Filter results by typing the first few letters
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The African trade unions and the South African state, 1937-47: the recognition debate reassessed.
    (1992) Alexander, Peter, 1953-
    In April 1942 General Smuts decided that African trade unions should be granted full legal recognition under the Industrial Conciliation Act. The Act - which had been introduced, in 1924, by the first Smuts administration - used a definition of 'employee' which excluded most African men. Under the Act, trade unions composed of 'employees' could be registered, and these registered unions were provided with access to the various institutions for conflict resolution established by the Act; African men were generally excluded from these registered trade unions. The racial division of the working class and the subordinate status of African workers were thereby reinforced . If, in 1942, Africans had been included within the definition of 'employee', the subsequent history of South Africa would have been very different. However, early in the December of that year, the cabinet decided not to proceed with a change to the law. Why did Smuts agree to redefine 'employee'? And why did he change his mind? These are the principal questions which this paper seeks to address.