The Sweet, Food and Allied Workers' Union (SFAWU) 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 food processing workers in South Africa. The union was founded in February 1974 in

Durban Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...

, with the assistance of the Urban Training Project. By 1977, it had spread to other regions of the country. In 1979, its general secretary, Skakes Sikhakhane, lost a bid for re-election, and left to form the rival

Food and Beverage Workers' Union The Food and Beverage Workers' Union was a trade union representing workers in the food processing industry in South Africa. The union was established in 1979 by Skakes Sikhakhane, after he had lost re-election as general secretary of the Sweet, ...

. Later in the year, the SFAWU was a founding affiliate of the

Federation of South African Trade Unions The Federation of South African Trade Unions (FOSATU) was a trade union federation in South Africa. History The federation was formed at a congress over the weekend of 14–15 April 1979 in Hammanskraal and officially launched five days l ...

. It grew steadily, from 400 members in 1974, to 5,000 in 1981, and by 1982 it claimed to have organised all the workers in its sector. That year, it absorbed the small Eastern Province Sweet, Food and Allied Workers' Union. In 1985, the union was a founding affiliate of the new

Congress of South African Trade Unions The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is a trade union federation in South Africa. It was founded in 1985 and is the largest of the country's three main trade union federations, with 21 affiliated trade unions.One Union expelled, ...

, at which time it had 19,596 members. The following year, it merged with the

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 ...

and the Retail and Allied Workers' Union, to form the

Food and Allied Workers Union The Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU) is a trade union representing workers in the food processing industry in South Africa. The union was formed in 1986, through the amalgamation of the Food and Canning Workers' Union, the Sweet, Food and A ...

.{{cite web , title=Sweet Food and Allied Workers Union (SFAWU) , url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/sweet-food-and-allied-workers-union-sfawu , website=South African History Online , access-date=14 March 2021

General Secretaries

:1974: Skakes Sikhakhane :1979: Maggie Magubane

Presidents

:1979:

Chris Dlamini Christopher Ndodebandla Dlamini (born 10 October 1944 – 19 November 2009) was a South African trade union leader. Dlamini grew up in Benoni and Springs. He became aware of the African National Congress at an early age, and saw himself a ...

References

Trade unions in South Africa Food processing trade unions Trade unions established in 1974 Trade unions disestablished in 1986