The Azanian Confederation of Trade Unions (AZACTU) was a

national trade union federation A national trade union center (or national center or central) is a federation or confederation of trade unions in a country. Nearly every country in the world has a national trade union center, and many have more than one. In some regions, such a ...

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 federation was established in 1984, with eight affiliates, representing a total of 75,000 black workers. These formerly independent affiliates had been active in numerous strikes in 1983 and 1984. The federation was independent of the

Azanian People's Organisation The Azanian People's Organisation (AZAPO) is a South African liberation movement and political party. The organisation's two student wings are the Azanian Students' Movement (AZASM) for high school learners and the other being for university leve ...

, although that party had helped set up several of the affiliates. In 1985, the federation began discussing a merger with the

Council of Unions of South Africa The Council of Unions of South Africa (CUSA) was a national trade union federation in South Africa. History The federation was founded on 14 September 1980 by the former affiliates of the Black Consultative Committee which did not wish to join the ...

. Although initial discussions fell through, on 5 October 1986 a merger was completed, forming the

National Council of Trade Unions The National Council of Trade Unions (NACTU) is a national trade union center in South Africa. History The federation was formed by the merger of the Council of Unions of South Africa (CUSA) and the Azanian Confederation of Trade Unions (AZACT ...

Affiliates

{, class="wikitable sortable" ! Union !! Abbreviation !! Founded !! Left !! Reason left !! Membership (1986){{cite book , last1=Kraak , first1=Gerald , title=Breaking the Chains , date=1993 , publisher=Pluto Press , location=London , isbn=0745307051 , - , African Allied Workers' Union , , AAWU , , 1982 , , , , , , 2,200 , - , Amalgamated Black Workers' Union , , ABWU , , , , , , , , ''N/A'' , - , Black Allied Mining and Construction Workers' Union , , BAMACWU , , , , 1986 , , Transferred to NACTU , , 32,000 , - , Black Domestic Workers' Union , , BDWU , , 1985 , , 1986 , , Transferred to NACTU , , 14,000 , - , Black Electronic and Electrical Workers' Union , , BEEWU , , , , 1986 , , Transferred to NACTU , , 2,001 , - , Black General Workers' Union , , BLAGWU , , 1983 , , 1986 , , Dissolved , , 5,030 , - , Engineering and Allied Workers' Union , , EAWUSA , , 1963 , , 1986 , , Transferred to NACTU , , 3,000 , - ,

Hotel, Liquor, Catering and Allied Workers' Union HOTELICCA is a general union in South Africa. The union was founded in 1978, as the Hotel, Liquor and Catering Trade Workers' Union. In 1980, it broadened its remit and became the Hotel, Liquor, Catering and Allied Workers' Union of South Africa ...

, , HOTELICA , , 1981 , , 1986 , , Transferred to NACTU , , 10,000 , - , Insurance and Assurance Workers' Union of South Africa , , IAWUSA , , , , 1986 , , Transferred to NACTU , , 30,000 , - , National Union of Workers of South Africa , , NUWSA , , , , , , , , 1,500

References

National trade union centres of South Africa Trade unions established in 1984 Trade unions disestablished in 1986