The Black Trade Union of Transnet Workers (BLATU) was a
Company union set up by the
South African Railways and Harbours Administration The South African Railways and Harbours Administration (SAR&H) was established on 31 May 1910 with formation of the Union of South Africa by the amalgamation of the four colonial railways and all harbours in South Africa - about 11,000 kilometres of ...
in 1981. In 1982 it claimed a membership of 60,000, out of 95,000 black employees. Union dues were collected by the company, whose supervisors selected the officials. It was intended to supplant the
South African Railways and Harbours Union
The South African Railways and Harbours Union was formed by black workers of the South African Railways and Harbours Administration after they had been expelled from the National Union of Railway and Harbour Servants.
Formation
Rachel Simons, ...
(SARHWU).
It had a membership of 31,750 in 1990.
BLATU merged with SARHWU and the Transnet Allied Trade Union (TATU) to form the
South African Transport and Allied Workers' Union (SATAWU).
References
{{Political history of South Africa
Defunct trade unions in South Africa
Transport trade unions in South Africa
1981 establishments in South Africa
Trade unions established in 1981
Trade unions disestablished in 1998