Organised labour and the politics of class formation in post-apartheid South Africa

Alexander Beresford

Review of African Political Economy, 2012, vol. 39, issue 134, 569-589

Abstract: This paper will examine the processes of class formation being augmented by South Africa's democratic transition and the impacts these processes are having on trade union organising. Through a case study of the National Union of Mineworkers in the energy industry, it will be argued that affirmative action and employment equity policies are opening up divisions within the union and eroding its unifying class identity. This poses a great challenge, not only to trade union organisation, but also to how we understand the political role of South Africa's trade unions within the post-apartheid era. [Le travail organisé et la politique de formation des classes après l'époque de l'apartheid en Afrique du Sud.] Le présent document examine les processus de formation des classes mis en croissance par la transition démocratique en Afrique du Sud et les impacts que ces processus ont sur l'organisation syndicale. Grâce à une étude de cas du Syndicat national des mineurs (NUM) dans le secteur de l'énergie, on fera valoir que l'action positive et les politiques d'équité dans le domaine de l'emploi suscitent des divisions au sein de l'Union et entament l'identité de la classe unificatrice. Cela pose un grand défi, non seulement à l'organisation syndicale, mais aussi à la façon dont nous comprenons le rôle politique des syndicats d'Afrique du Sud à travers l'ère d'après- apartheid. Mots-clés : Afrique du Sud ; les syndicats ; l'action positive ; COSATU ; ANC

Date: 2012
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DOI: 10.1080/03056244.2012.738417

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