The South African Boilermakers', Iron and Steel Workers', Shipbuilders' and Welders' Society (SABS) 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 metalworkers and shipbuilders in South Africa.

History

The union was established in 1916. Many of its founding members were recent emigrants from England and had held membership of the

United Society of Boilermakers The Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers (ASB) was a trade union in the United Kingdom. Many of its members worked in shipbuilding, in which industry it was the leading trade union, while over tim ...

, including founding president

George Brown George Brown may refer to: Arts and entertainment * George Loring Brown (1814–1889), American landscape painter * George Douglas Brown (1869–1902), Scottish novelist * George Williams Brown (1894–1963), Canadian historian and editor * G ...

, and Ben Caddy, who was general secretary from 1920 to 1950. The union was successively affiliated to the

South African Industrial Federation The South African Industrial Federation (SAIF) was established in 1914 as an amalgamation of the Industrial Federations in the provinces of South Africa. The federation attracted most of the trades unions in the country. It had a policy of suppo ...

, the

South African Trades Union Council The South African Trades Union Congress (TUC) was a national trade union federation in South Africa. The council was established in 1924, as the South African Association of Employees' Organisations. It was founded at a special congress, held aft ...

, and the

South African Trades and Labour Council The South African Trades and Labour Council (SAT&LC) was a national trade union federation in South Africa. History The federation was founded in 1930, when the South African Trades Union Council merged with the Cape Federation of Labour Unions. ...

. In the 1950s, it played a leading role in the Trade Union Unity Committee, which opposed compulsory splitting of trade unions on racial grounds. It then joined 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 although it disaffiliated in 1977, it rejoined in 1980. By then, it had 18,400 members, and it received permission to admit black workers. As a result, its membership reached 45,000 by the end of 1981. In 1983, the union again resigned from TUCSA, in protest at the way it favoured the struggles of white workers. Many other unions followed its lead, and TUCSA had to dissolve in 1986. In 1990, it absorbed the

South African Engine Drivers', Firemen's and Operators' Association The South African Engine Drivers' and Firemen's Association (SAEDFA) was a trade union representing people involved in operating engines in South Africa. The union was founded in 1895 in the Transvaal, and its membership was originally based in ...

. In 1991, it was a founding affiliate of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions. On 1 August 1995, it merged with the

Amalgamated Engineering Union of South Africa The Amalgamated Engineering Union of South Africa (AEU) was a trade union representing white manufacturing workers in South Africa. The British Amalgamated Society of Engineers established its first branch in South Africa in 1886, and in 1893 its ...

, the

Engineering, Industrial and Mining Workers' Union The Engineering Industrial Workers' Union (EIWU) was a trade union representing engineering workers in South Africa. The Iron and Steel and Metal Workers' Union became the No 5 branch of the Amalgamated Engineering Union of South Africa (AEU) in ...

, and the

Iron Moulders' Society of South Africa The Iron Moulders' Society of South Africa (IMS) was a trade union representing metalworkers in South Africa. The union was founded in 1896. It was strongly focused on the rights of white workers, and sought to exclude others from working as mou ...

, to form the National Employees' Trade Union.{{cite book , last1=Steenkamp , first1=C. L. , title=THE RESTRUCTURING PROCESS OF THE SAMANCOR MANGANESE MINES (MAY 2000 -JUNE 2001) , date=2004 , publisher=North West University , location=Potchefstroom

General Secretaries

:1920: Ben Caddy :1950: :1954: Tom Murray :1975: Ike van der Walt

References

Metal trade unions Trade unions established in 1916 Trade unions disestablished in 1995 Trade unions in South Africa