The African trade unions and the South African state, 1937-47: the recognition debate reassessed.
Date
1992
Authors
Alexander, Peter, 1953-
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Abstract
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.
Description
Africa Studies Seminar Series. Paper presented August, 1992.
Keywords
South Africa. Politics and government, 1909-1948, Labor unions, Black, Labor movement. South Africa. History, 1909-1948