The South African Boilermakers', Iron and Steel Workers', Shipbuilders' and Welders' Society (SABS) was a

trade union A trade union (British English) or labor union (American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to maintain or improve the conditions of their employment, such as attaining better wages ...

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 * Ge ...

, 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 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. 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 Engineering, Industrial and Mining Workers' Union, and the Iron Moulders' Society of South Africa, 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