The Building, Construction and Allied Workers' Union (BCAWU) is 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 construction industry in

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 1975 to represent black workers in the industry. It affiliated to the

Black Consultative Committee The Urban Training Project (UTP) was an initiative to encourage black workers in South Africa to form new trade unions. During the 1960s, the Trade Union Council of South Africa (TUCSA) had first permitted unions representing black workers to affi ...

, and then to 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 ...

. It had 9,200 members by 1981, growing to 27,264 in 1986, with a particular strength around

Gauteng Gauteng ( ) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. The name in Sotho-Tswana languages means 'place of gold'. Situated on the Highveld, Gauteng is the smallest province by land area in South Africa. Although Gauteng accounts for only ...

, where it was the leading union in the industry. In 1986, the union affiliated to the new

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 ...

(NACTU), of which it remains a member. By 2011, it had about 47,000 members.

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References

{{Trade unions in South Africa navbox Building and construction trade unions Trade unions established in 1975 Trade unions in South Africa