Federation of South African Trade Unions (FOSATU) records
- ZA HPRA AH1999
- Fonds
- 1939 - 1986
This inventory (no.17) describes the Records of the Federation of South African Trade Unions (FOSATU) and covers the years 1939-1986.
The records inventoried pertain mainly to FOSATU (1977-1986) as well as to the South African Trades and Labour Council (1939-1954), The Trade Union Advisory and Co-ordinating Council (1974-1979), Central Administration Services (1973-1984), and the Institute for Industrial Education (1973-1980).
The records are of considerable interest to the historian, the industrial sociologist and the student of politics. There is much about the internal organisation of FOSATU including the activities of its committees, its education projects, its affiliates, its dealings with overseas labour organisations, as well as other trade union bodies and non-trade union organisations. Subjects covered are: the rise of black trade unionism, labour legislation, 'racial registration' recognition agreements, health and safety, working conditions, strikes, and trade union unity.
The records are classified into separate national bodies. They are further sub-divided into the broad categories of national organisation, regional and special topics. The records are separated by form into minutes, reports, memoranda, correspondence, printed items and press cuttings. A brief history of FOSATU, comprehensive index of all personal names and selected subject fields, and a table of the development of black trade unions from 1972-1984 have been provided.
Abbreviations.
AAWU - African Allied Workers Union.
AFCWU - African Food and Canning Workers Union.
DAMCWC - Black Allied Mining and Construction Workers Union.
BAWD - Black Allied Workers Union.
BC - Black Consciousness.
BEEWU - Black Electronics and Electrical Workers' Union.
BMWU - Black Mine Workers Union.
CCAWUSA - Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union.
CCOIITU - Consultative Committee of Black Trade Unions.
CIWW - Council of Industrial Workers of the Witwatersrand.
CTMWA - Cape Town Municipal Workers' Association.
CUSA - Council of Unions of South Africa.
CWII - Chemical Workers Industrial Union.
EAWU - Engineering & Allied Workers Union.
FTWU - Furniture and Timber Workers Union.
FWN - FOSATU Workers News.
GAWU - General and Allied Workers' Union.
GFWBF - General Factory Workers Benefit Fund.
GWU - General Workers Union.
IAS - Industrial Aid Society.
IAWUSA - Insurance and Assurance Workers Union.
ICFTU - International Confederation of Free Trade Unions.
IIE - Institute for Industrial Education.
JGU - Jewellers & Goldsmiths Union.
JLDF - Joint Legal Defence Fund.
MACWUSA - Motor Assembly and Component Workers' Union.
MAWU - Metal and Allied Workers Union.
MGWUSA - Municipal and General Workers' Union.
MWASA - Media Workers' Association of South Africa.
NAAWU - National Automobile and Allied Workers Union.
NFBW - National Federation of Black Workers.
NFW - National Federation of Workers.
NGWU - National General Workers Union.
NSIEU - National Sugar Industrial Employees Union.
NUTW - National Union of Textile Workers.
RAWU - Retail and Allied Workers Union.
SAAWU - South African Allied Workers Union.
SALB - South African Labour Bulletin.
SFAWU - Sweet Food & Allied Workers Union.
TGWU - Transport and General Workers Union.
TUACC - Trade Union Advisory and Co-ordinating Council.
TUCSA - Trade Union Council of South Africa.
TWP - Transvaal Workers Project.
UAW - United Automobile Workers.
UBJ - Union of Black Journalists.
UTP - Union of Black Journalists.
WPMAWU - Western Province Motor Assembly Workers Union.
WPWAB - Western Province Workers Advisory Board.
Note: Diagram of Black Trade Union Development 1972-1984 not reproduced.
Federation of South African Trade Unions (FOSATU)