The National Union of Furniture and Allied Workers (NUFAW) 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 furniture 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 1956, as a split from the

Furniture Workers' Industrial Union The Furniture Workers' Industrial Union (FWIU) was a trade union representing workers involved in making furniture in South Africa. The union was established in 1925, when a small craft union in the Transvaal decided to reorganise itself as the F ...

, which restricted itself to white workers. NUFAW initially represented only "coloured" workers in the industry. It affiliated to the

South African Confederation of Labour The South African Confederation of Labour (SACOL) was a national trade union federation of white workers in South Africa. History The federation was established in 1957, as a loose body bringing together the South African Federation of Trade Unions ...

, and by 1962 was its only affiliate to represent non-white workers. It later transferred to the

Trade Union Council of South Africa The Trade Union Council of South Africa (TUCSA) was a national trade union federation in South Africa. History The council was founded in October 1954 by 61 unions which split from the South African Trades and Labour Council. They decided that on ...

(TUCSA), and had 7,186 members by 1970. In 1974, it absorbed the Furniture Workers' Industrial Union. In 1980, it began admitting all workers, and grew to 21,665 members by the end of the year. TUCSA dissolved in 1986, and NUFAW then joined 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 ...

. However, it was regarded as being considerably more conservative than the majority of unions in the new federation.

External links

*{{official website, http://www.nufawsa.co.za/

References

Furniture industry trade unions Trade unions established in 1956 Trade unions in South Africa