The Food and Beverage Workers' Union 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 food processing 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 established in 1979 by Skakes Sikhakhane, after he had lost re-election as general secretary of the

Sweet, Food and Allied Workers' Union The Sweet, Food and Allied Workers' Union (SFAWU) was a trade union representing food processing workers in South Africa. The union was founded in February 1974 in Durban, with the assistance of the Urban Training Project. By 1977, it had sprea ...

. In 1980, it was a founding affiliate of 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 ...

, and by the following year, it had 6,000 members. By 1986, when it transferred 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 ...

, it had grown to 16,124 members. In 1993, it merged with the National Union of Wine, Spirits and Allied Workers, to form the

National Union of Food, Beverage, Wine, Spirit and Allied Workers The National Union of Food, Beverage, Wine, Spirit and Allied Workers (NUFBWSAW) is a trade union representing workers in the food and drink processing industry in South Africa. The union was established in 1993, when the Food and Beverage Worker ...

.{{cite book , title=Special Report of the Director-General on the Application of the Declaration Concerning Action Against Apartheid in South Africa , date=1994 , publisher=International Labour Office

References

Food processing trade unions Trade unions established in 1979 Trade unions disestablished in 1993 Trade unions in South Africa