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- Title
Modernisation organisationnelle et nouveaux clivages parmi les syndicalistes d'Afrique du Sud.
- Authors
Buhlungu, Sakhela
- Abstract
This article explores the way in which the South Africa Trade union movement, and in particular the union officials, are evolving as the country transforms to a liberal democracy and a global capitalist economy. Political liberalization, as a result of the transition from apartheid to liberal democracy, impacted unions in several ways. First, it opened up opportunities for black people, in general, and union officials to enter government service. Second, the decasualization of society triggered class formation, which catapulted activists and unionism to positions of power and money; Third, positions in labor unions became arenas for fierce competition, Fourth, legitimate centralized institutions for negotiation and consultation between labor, the state and employers were established. Fifth, unions lots some of their officials to other organizations that pay higher salaries. Finally, the dawn of democracy introduced new pressures on unions to abandon their social movement character and to operate like conventional social institutions. Meanwhile, capitalism cost union some of their leaders as they were recruited into the management of some companies. Unions lost the moral high it used to occupy as reasonable and professional unionism replaced militancy. Also, the insecurity of workers in a globalized economy has made it extremely difficult for unionized workers to resort to militant actions to block restructuring in its various guises.
- Subjects
SOUTH Africa; LABOR unions; LABOR movement; DEMOCRACY; CAPITALISM; LABOR
- Publication
Labour, Capital & Society / Travail, capital et société, 2003, Vol 36, Issue 1, p8
- ISSN
0706-1706
- Publication type
Article