The African Clothing Workers' Union (ACWU) was a

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...

representing workers in the garment industry

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. The union was founded in 1928, on the initiative of the

South African Communist Party The South African Communist Party (SACP) is a communist party in South Africa. It was founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA), tactically dissolved itself in 1950 in the face of being declared illegal by the governing Na ...

(SACP), and it was a founding affiliate of the Federation of Non-European Trade Unions. While it was initially one of many new

industrial union Industrial unionism is a trade union organizing method through which all workers in the same industry are organized into the same union, regardless of skill or trade, thus giving workers in one industry, or in all industries, more leverage in ...

s to organise black workers, it was almost unique in surviving the

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

- the other two being the

African Laundry Workers' Union The African Laundry Workers' Union was a trade union representing cleaning workers in South Africa. The union was founded in 1927, on the initiative of the South African Communist Party (SACP), and it was a founding affiliate of the Federation of ...

and the Cape Town Stevedoring Workers Union. The union was led by Gana Makabeni, who soon moved to become an early member of the

African National Congress The African National Congress (ANC) is a Social democracy, social-democratic political party in Republic of South Africa, South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when ...

, and attempted to use the union to organise workers in other industries. In 1941, the union was a founding affiliate of the Council of Non-European Trade Unions. Makabeni led the union until his death, in 1955. He was succeeded by Viola Hashe, the first woman to lead an all-male trade union in South Africa. In 1962, the union merged with the Garment Workers' Union of African Women, to form the

National Union of Clothing Workers The National Union of Clothing Workers (NUCW) was a trade union representing garment workers in South Africa. The union was founded in 1962, when the Garment Workers' Union of African Women merged with the African Clothing Workers' Union. It aff ...

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References

Trade unions in South Africa Trade unions established in 1928 Trade unions disestablished in 1955 1928 establishments in South Africa 1955 disestablishments in South Africa