The South African Trades and Labour Council (SAT&LC) was a

national trade union federation A national trade union center (or national center or central) is a federation or confederation of trade unions in a country. Nearly every country in the world has a national trade union center, and many have more than one. In some regions, such a ...

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 ...

History

The federation was founded in 1930, when 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 ...

merged with the

Cape Federation of Labour Unions The Cape Federation of Labour Unions (CFLU) was a trade union federation in South Africa. The federation was founded in 1913. It aimed to represent all workers in the Cape Province, although most of its membership consisted of unions representing ...

. The federation was broadly split between the

craft union Craft unionism refers to a model of trade unionism in which workers are organised based on the particular craft or trade in which they work. It contrasts with industrial unionism, in which all workers in the same industry are organized into the s ...

s and mining unions, which generally only admitted white workers and took conservative positions; and a growing number of

industrial union Industrial unionism is a trade union organizing method through which all workers in the same industry are organized into the same union, regardless of skill or trade, thus giving workers in one industry, or in all industries, more leverage in ...

s, which admitted white, Asian and "coloured" members, and often worked closely with unions representing black workers. In 1944, the federation adopted the Workers' Charter, which aimed to bring about a socialist government. In 1947, some unions of white workers resigned in opposition to the SAT&LC admitting black workers, and they formed the pro-

apartheid Apartheid (, especially South African English: , ; , "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was ...

Co-ordinating Council of South African Trade Unions The Co-ordinating Council of South African Trade Unions (CCSATU) was a national trade union federation of white workers in South Africa. The South African Trades and Labour Council (SAT&LC) included all unions, but a minority of its affiliates opp ...

. A further group of right-wing craft unions left in 1951 to form the

South African Federation of Trade Unions The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) is a trade union federation in South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the s ...

. In 1950, the

Government of South Africa The Republic of South Africa is a parliamentary republic with three-tier system of government and an independent judiciary, operating in a parliamentary system. Legislative authority is held by the Parliament of South Africa. Executive authority ...

introduced the Suppression of Communism Act, which made it extremely difficult to maintain unions open to both black and white workers. The SAT&LC became increasingly divided, with some unions supporting the liberation of black workers, reform of the federation's discriminatory constitution, and the formation of local committees to organise all workers. Other unions, principally those

s already restricted to white workers, opposed these ideas. In 1954, they walked out of the federation's congress, and founded the new

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), which did not accept black workers. Nineteen SAT&LC affiliates refused to join the TUCSA, and instead former a Trade Union Co-ordinating Committee. In 1955, this merged with the Council of Non-European Trade Unions, to form the

South African Congress of Trade Unions The South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU) was a national trade union federation in South Africa. History The federation was established in March 1955, after right wing unions dissolved the South African Trades and Labour Council in 1954 to ...

Affiliates

The following unions were affiliated in 1947: {, class="wikitable sortable" ! Union !! Abbreviation !! Founded{{cite book , last1=Alexander , first1=Peter , title=Workers, War & the Origins of Apartheid , date=2000 , publisher=J. Currey , isbn=9780852557655 !! Membership (1947) , - , African Cement Workers' Union , , , , , , 147 , - , African Commercial and Distributive Workers' Union , , , , , , 375 , - , African Sweet Workers' Union , , , , 1937 , , 325 , - , Agricultural Workers' Federation , , , , , , 1,057 , - , Amalgamated Bricklayers' Trade Union of South Africa , , , , , , 1,225 , - ,

Amalgamated Engineering Union The Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU) was a major United Kingdom, British trade union. It merged with the Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union to form the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union in 1992. History ...

, , AEU , , 1893 , , 7,608 , - ,

Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers The Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers (ASW) was a British trade union representing carpenters, joiners and allied trades. The ASW was formed in 1921 by the amalgamation of two smaller unions. It was itself merged into the Union of Constructi ...

, , ASW , , 1881 , , 3,793 , - , Brewery Employees' Union , , , , 1929 , , 225 , - ,

Building Workers' Industrial Union The Building Workers' Industrial Union of Australia was an Australian trade union covering workers in the construction industry. Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners of Australia It was originally established as the Australian District ...

, , BWIU , , 1916 , , 7,334 , - , Cape Explosive Industrial Workers' Union , , , , 1927 , , 225 , - , Cape Furniture Workers' Union , , , , , , 1,250 , - , Cape Meat Trade Employees' Union , , , , , , 199 , - , Cape Mineral Water Workers' Union , , , , , , 138 , - , Cape Plywood Workers' Industrial Union , , , , , , 135 , - , Cape Saw Mill Workers' Union , , , , , , 150 , - , Cape Town Gas Workers' Union , , , , , , 60 , - , Cape Town Lift Operators' Union , , , , , , 11 , - , Cape Western District Bespoke Tailors' Union , , , , , , 300 , - , Chemical and Allied Workers' Union , , , , , , 259 , - , Chemical Workers' Union , , , , 1943 , , 180 , - , Concession Stores and Allied Trades Assistants' Union , , , , 1926 , , 668 , - , Durban Indian Municipal Employees' Society , , DIMES , , 1936 , , 1,801 , - , Durban Municipal Transport Employees' Union , , , , 1926 , , 500 , - , East London and Border Furniture Workers' Union , , , , , , 145 , - , East London Transport Workers' Union , , , , , , 84 , - , Explosive and Fertiliser Workers' Union , , , , , , 750 , - ,

Food and Canning Workers' Union The Food and Canning Workers' Union (FCWU) was a trade union representing food processing workers in South Africa. Its members were mainly based in the Western and Eastern Cape. It was affiliate with the African Food and Canning Workers' Union (AFC ...

, , FCWU , , 1941 , , 2,025 , - , Food, Canning and Allied Workers' Union , , , , , , 540 , - , Furniture Workers' Industrial Union (Natal) , , , , 1930 , , 807 , - ,

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 ...

(Transvaal) , , FWIU , , 1925 , , 1,610 , - , Garment Workers' Industrial Union , , GWIU , , 1934 , , 2,180 , - ,

Garment Workers' Union The Garment Workers' Union ( no, Bekledningsarbeiderforbundet, BAF) was a trade union representing workers in the clothing industry in Norway. History The union was founded in 1969, when the Norwegian Union of Clothing Workers merged with the Nor ...

, , GWUSA , , 1909 , , 11,870 , - , General Building Workers' Union , , , , , , 135 , - , Glass Workers' Union , , GWU , , 1943 , , 359 , - , Glass Manufacturing Workers' Union , , , , , , 56 , - , Hotel, Bar and Catering Trade Employees' Union , , HB&CTEA , , , , 1,050 , - ,

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 ...

, , IMS , , 1896 , , 1,182 , - , Jewellers' and Goldsmiths' Society , , J&G , , 1939 , , 180 , - , Johannesburg Municipal Transport Workers' Union , , JMTWU , , 1935 , , 1,750 , - , Match Workers' Union , , , , 1944 , , 93 , - , Match Workers' Industrial Union , , , , , , 150 , - , Mineral Water Workers' Union , , , , 1944 , , 75 , - ,

Motor Industry Employees' Union The Motor Industry Employees' Union was a trade union representing workers involved in vehicle building in South Africa. The union was founded under the influence of an employers' organisation, the Motor Industry Employers' Association, which wan ...

, , MIEU , , 1939 , , 4,753 , - ,

Natal Liquor and Catering Trade Employees' Union The Hospitality Industry and Allied Workers' Union (HIAWU) is a trade union representing workers in the hospitality sector in South Africa. The union was founded in 1928, as the Natal Liquor and Catering Trade Employees' Union affiliated with the ...

, , NL&CTEU , , 1928 , , 875 , - , Natal Sugar Industry Employees' Union , , , , 1938 , , 887 , - , National Baking Industrial Union , , , , 1927 , , 354 , - , National Union of Laundering, Cleaning and Dyeing Workers , , NULCDW , , 1940 , , 575 , - , National Union of Commercial Travellers , , , , 1937 , , 1,274 , - ,

National Union of Distributive Workers The National Union of Distributive Workers (NUDW) was a trade union representing workers involved in retail and goods transport in South Africa. History The union was founded in 1936 by supporters of the South African Communist Party, to represen ...

, , NUDW , , 1936 , , 7,420 , - , Oil and Petrol Employees' Union , , , , , , 944 , - , Operative Plasterers' Trade Union of South Africa , , , , , , 248 , - , Optical Workers' Union , , , , , , 59 , - , Picture Framing Workers' Industrial Union , , , , , , 9 , - , Port Elizabeth Non-European Municipal Workers' Union , , , , , , 193 , - , Port Elizabeth Tram and Bus Workers' Union , , , , 1930 , , 329 , - , Pretoria Liquor and Catering Trade Employees' Union , , , , 1925 , , 160 , - , Pretoria Municipal Tram and Bus Workers' Union , , , , 1942 , , 329 , - , Pretoria Retail Meat Trade Employees' Union , , , , , , 92 , - , Public Service and Provincial Council Workers' Union , , , , , , 796 , - , Rope and Mat Workers' Industrial Union , , , , 1937 , , 177 , - , Shoe and Leather Repairer Workers' Union (Cape) , , , , , , 97 , - , Shoe and Leather Repairer Workers' Union (Port Elizabeth) , , , , , , 27 , - ,

South African Association of Municipal Employees The South African Association of Municipal Employees (SAAME) was a trade union representing local government workers in South Africa. The union originated in 1917 as a federation of local government unions. By 1919 it had ten affiliates in the T ...

, , SAAME , , 1919 , , 7,519 , - ,

South African Boilermakers' Society The South African Boilermakers', Iron and Steel Workers', Shipbuilders' and Welders' Society (SABS) was a trade union representing metalworkers and shipbuilders in South Africa. History The union was established in 1916. Many of its founding mem ...

, , SABS , , 1916 , , 2,501 , - , South African Canvas and Rope Workers' Union , , SAC&RWU , , 1926 , , 180 , - , South African Canvas and Rope Workers' Union (Cape) , , , , , , 35 , - ,

South African Electrical Workers' Association The South African Equity Workers' Association (SAEWA) is a general union in South Africa. The union was founded in 1929, as the Cape Town branch of the British Electrical Trades Union. It registered as an independent trade union, the South Afri ...

, , SAEWA , , 1939 , , 3,784 , - ,

South African Engine Drivers' and Firemen's 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 ...

, , SAED&FA , , 1894 , , 2,616 , - , South African Hairdressers' Employees' Industrial Union , , SAHEIU , , 1944 , , 1,788 , - ,

South African Iron and Steel Trades Association The South African Iron and Steel Trades Association (SAISTA; af, Suid Afrikaanse Yster en Staalbedryfsvereniging) was a trade union representing white metalworkers in South Africa. The union was founded in 1936, with support from the Nasionale ...

, , ISTA , , 1936 , , 1,788 , - , South African Mine Workers' Union , , MWU , , 1902 , , 17,500 , - ,

South African Reduction Workers' Association The South African Reduction Workers' Association (SARWA) was a trade union representing officials involved in processing mining ores in South Africa. The union was in existence in the early years of the 20th-century, but it nearly collapsed follo ...

, , SARWA , , 1924 , , 2,500 , - ,

South African Society of Bank Officials South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþaz ...

, , SASBO , , 1916 , , 5,300 , - , South African Tin Workers' Union , , SATWU , , 1939 , , 1,843 , - ,

South African Typographical Union The South African Typographical Union (SATU) is a trade union representing workers in the printing and media industries in South Africa. The union was founded on 5 January 1898 by six local unions, including the Durban Typographical Society. Man ...

, , SATU , , 1898 , , 7,088 , - ,

Sweet Workers' Union The Sweet Workers' Union (SWU) was a small but long-lived union representing confectionery workers in South Africa. In 1925, a Women Workers' Union was established by F. Klenerman. It affiliated to the South African Trades Union Congress (SATUC) ...

, , SWU , , 1926 , , 1,843 , - , Tailoring Workers' Industrial Union , , , , 1934 , , 725 , - , Tea, Coffee and Chicory Industry Employees' Union , , , , 1943 , , 94 , - , Tea, Coffee and Chicory Industry Employees' Union (Cape) , , , , , , 67 , - ,

Textile Workers' Industrial Union The Textile Workers' Industrial Union (TWIU) was a trade union representing workers in the textile industry in South Africa. The union was founded in 1935 and affiliated to the South African Trades and Labour Council. It was unusual in that it ...

, , TWIU , , 1935 , , 1,625 , - , Timber Workers' Union , , , , , , 75 , - , Tin Workers' Union , , , , , , 263 , - , Tobacco Workers' Union , , , , 1928 , , 1,005 , - , Tramway and Omnibus Workers' Union , , TOWU , , , , 933 , - , Transvaal Explosives and Chemical Workers' Union , , , , 1925 , , 480 , - , Transvaal Leather and Allied Trades Industrial Union , , TL&ATIU , , 1928 , , 1,651 , - , Transvaal Retail Meat Trade Employees' Union , , , , 1938 , , 410 , - , Trawler and Line Fishermen's Union , , , , , , 175 , - , Twine and Bag Workers' Union , , , , 1942 , , 113 , - , Umbogintwini Industrial Workers' Union , , , , , , 72 , - , Wholesale Meat Factory and Cold Storage Workers' Industrial Union , , , , , , 58 , - , Witwatersrand Banking Employees' Association , , , , 1934 , , 420 , - ,

Witwatersrand Liquor and Catering Trade Employees' Union The Hotel and Restaurant Workers' Union (HARWU) was a trade union representing hospitality workers in South Africa. The union was founded in 1926, as the Witwatersrand Liquor and Catering Employees' Union (Wit Liquor). By 1974, it was affiliated ...

, , Wit Liquor , , 1926 , , 370 , - , Witwatersrand Taxi Drivers' Union , , , , 1941 , , 97 , - , Witwatersrand Tea Room, Restaurant and Catering Trade Employees' Union , , , , 1930 , , 994

General Secretaries

:1930: William H. Andrews :1932: Alexander Gordon Forsyth :1937: Willie de Vries :1948: Alexander Gordon Forsyth :1951: Harry Boyder and

Dulcie Hartwell Dulcie Marie Hartwell (18 October 1915 – 30 October 2012) was a South Africa trade union leader. Born in Johannesburg, Hartwell's mother died when Dulcie was three years old. The family then struggled for money, and Hartwell had to leave sc ...

:1953:

References

National trade union centres of South Africa Trade unions established in 1930 Trade unions disestablished in 1954