TRADE UNIONS

ID TRAVAIL

by ALEX. HEPPLE, M.P. «2 \t dlees ^Soodwo5 n S— jpanmncjSveri o * lia c il!

ELKE WERKER MOET DIE BOEK LEES VOLGEPAK MET FEITE OMTRENT DIE BROEDERBOND- NASIONALISTIESE PLAN OM S.A. VAK- BONDE TE BEHEER

DIE SKRYWER : ALEX HEPPLE, L.V. Patlementere Leier van die S.A. Arbeidsparty.

13/9 Posvry) IESTEL 0 EKSEMPLAAR VANDAGI VUL IN DIE VORM EN POS DIT f — ------1 I Aon Unity Publications, Posbus 4719, Johannesburg. R I Ingeslote posorder/seels ter waarde van ...... j I waarvoor geliewe my ..... eksemplare van „Trade ^ I Unions in Travail” te stuur. || | Naam ...... i J Adres ...... - ...... s b — » — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -p — — — - 9 VERKRYGBAAR VAN ALLE BOEKWINKELS OF UNITY PUBLICATIONS, POSBUS 4719, JOHANNESBURG SCHOEMAN ORDERS COPY HE Minister of Labour T ordered by telephone on Wednesday a copy of the bools “Trade Unions in Tra­ vail” by Mr. Alex Hepple, M.P. which is being: published later this month by Saam- trek. SAAMTREK PUBLISHES Vaderland on Tuesday published an article under a prominent three-column headline in which Mr. E. A. Socher, leader of the ITS FIRST split-away faction of the Leather Workers' Union, challenges Mr. Hepple to prove on a public plat­ form his facts regarding the split. BOOK In his book Mr. Hepple deals with the history of the Nationa­ list Party’s attack on the trade Alex Hepple, M.P. union movement. For the first time he correlates in a handy and On "Trade Unions easily available form authentic documents and quotations by in Travail” prominent Nationalist politicians. These quotations, stretching over VEN before its publication, the many years, show the connection E book by Mr. Alex Hepple, between the policy of the party M.T., Parliamentary Leader of and the legislation at present the Labour Party, on the position being introduced step by step to of the South African trade unions carry out that policy. has caused a sensation in the Press. Having analysed the position, This book is to be published by Mr. Hepple offers the workers a Saamtrek (Unity Publications, solution and a programme of Pty., Ltd.) later tills month at a action. price which will foe within the This book will for many reach of the pocket of every years be one of the most Impor­ working man or woman. tant works of reference not The book, “ TRADE UNIONS only for trade unionists but IN TRAVAIL," was previewed also for politicians of all par­ by Mr. Stanley Uys, political ties. It will serve workers to correspondent of the Sunday gain a clearer understanding Times, in a double - column of the forces and difficulties leader page article last Sunday. confronting them. As a result of the publicity Copies can be ordered from given there of some of the points Saamtrek, P O. Box 4719. Johan­ which Mr. Hepple makes, Die nesburg. Day MARCH-*] 954—-M A ART Nuwe Dag TRADE UNIONS IN S,A, U N IT Y PUBLICATIONS (Pty.) Ltd. is a publishing company formed and controlled by trade unions for the purpose of issuing publications to serve the interests of the workers. We are proud to announce the publication of our first book “TRADE UNIONS IN TRAVAIL” by Alex Hepple, M.P. This is no ordinary book. In 14 chapters it sets out in clear and simple language the story of South African trade unions and the many difficulties facing the workers. It contains valuable ex­ cerpts from important declara­ tions, reports and documents relating to South African trade union and political history. “TRADE UNIONS IN TRA­ VAIL’1 fills a long-felt need and

Miss Kiihn and a friend.

should be read By every worker, every trade union member, every trade union official and by ail those who are concerned with the future welfare of South Africa. The author of “TRADE UNIONS IN TRAVAIL” is well equipped to deal with the subject of his book. Born and bred in South Africa, he originates from a typical working- class family—his father, an active member of the Amalgamated Engi­ neering Union, was blacklisted, victimised and arrested for the part he played in the early work­ ing-class struggles of South Africa. Alex trudged the streets to­ gether with thousands of others who formed the huge army of un­ employed in search of work during the great depression. The background and history of Alex Hepple moulded him for the task he set himself in later life and which he is fulfilling today with great distinction. As a public man who has risen from the ranks Ivan and Allan Handel, nephews of of the workers, Alex is admired one of the Witwatersrand Branch and respected even by his greatest organisers. political enemies for his ability,

23 TRADE mm IN TRAVAIL

THE STORY OF THE BROEDERBOND-NATIONALIST PLAN TO CONTROL SOUTH AFRICAN TRADE UNIONS

By ALEX HEPPLE, M.P.

PUBLISHED BY UNITY PUBLICATIONS (PTY.) LTD. PO. BOX 4719 JOHANNESBURG. 1954. LABOUR LEADER'S BOOK ^j|R. A LEX HEPPLE, Parliamentary Leader of the S.A. Labour have been successfully “Christian- Nationalised” have become corrupt Party, has compiled a book of first-rate importance for an and worthless as weapons to defend understanding of what is happening to South Africa at the workers’ interests. But the bigger present time. It is "The Story of the Broederbond-Nationalist the lie, the more likely it is to be Plan to Control South African Trade Unions," but in fact the believed. Many workers persist in blindly following the Nationalist plot whose anatomy the book reveals extends much further road to servitude, and some trade than the Trade Unions, who are (or were?) simply the most for­ union leaders timidly tag along be­ midable opponent that the Nationalists have had to face. hind. Mr. Hepple’s book reads like a ‘•Plot" is a melodramatic word. tentacles put out to embrace thriller — and leaves one with the It conjures up memories of Eric various aspects of national life. uncomfortable feeling that it is the Ambler, John Buchan and Carol Their aim is identical — the estab­ reader who is to be the victim, un­ Reed, of discussions in cellars and lishment of an authoritarian state, less he takes stringent action to escapes through sewers. We have which, under the cloak of “Chris- defend himself. —G.R. all heard of the Broederbond and tian-Nationalism,” will establish a know it to be an organisation work­ corporate state. “TRADE UNIONS IN TRAVAIL” ing in secret for unspecified Mr. Hepple deals particularly by Alex Hepple, M.P. Published ends, yet, through constant with the Nationalist plans to win by Unity Publications, and obtain­ repetition, warnings about the over, immunise or destroy the able from the S.A. Labour Party, Broederbond have lost their force. trade unions. The whole charac­ 32 Kerk Street, Johannesburg. The Nationalists have gone about ter of these organisations is to be Price 3/6d. their work piecemeal, tackling first changed. A Central Economic this section of the population, now Council will provide a link be­ that, and all the time under such a tween the Government and a barrage of ideological nonsense “remodelled system of regulatory LABOUR STALWART that it has been difficult to see the boards, each board being repre­ IS 80 connection between their various sentative of its own trade, pro­ activities. fession or industry.” Subsidiary ly/TR. J. P. ANDERSON, who for Mr. Hepple’s book comes as a to these, will be a “Labour many years contributed the counterblast to scepticism and Council,” on which the “Chris­ feature “Letters to Henry Dubbs” complacency. By a painstaking tian-National” unions will be to "Forward”, celebrated his 80th collection of evidence, a putting represented, and which “will birthday this week, and sent a together of documents and exercise control over the appoint­ message of greetings to all comrades speeches of the last twenty years, ment of officials by, and the in the Labour Movement, wishing he has revealed both the pattern general activities of the trade them success in their struggle for a unions and workers’ organisa­ better South Africa. The S.A. of the plot and the tenacity with tions.” which it is being carried out. Labour Party extends its felicita­ The word “Fascist” has become a The ironic fact is, as the author tions to this fine old Labour term of abuse, now rather out of shows, that those unions which stalwart. fashion, which has been used in­ discriminately to insult political opponents. Yet one can apply the term with complete precision to the Nationalists and the movement of which they are one manifestation. They are Fascist, in the exact mean­ ing of the term, and are pursuing a Fascist programme. Mr. Hepple shows the way in which various organisations were evolved or seized, to pursue the single purpose of the Broederbond. The Federasie van Afrikaanse Kul- tuurverenigings, the Reddingsdaad- bond, the Blankewerkingsbesker- mingsbond, are only three of its! SAAMTEEK / U. Ar*. f Bladsy 3

LITTLE SIR ECHO

VussoH

According to statements by the Minister of Labour his new industrial legislation, to be _____ introduced this Session, will aim to establish “proper” trade unions. ; Labour M.P. Writes Book About Nat. Atta % Trade Unions k p By STANLEY UYS “ SUNDAY TIMES ” POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT 'T'HE Government has used the Suppression of ^ Communism Act to remove more than 40 trade union officials from their posts in the past two or three years. According to Mr. Alex. Hepple, M.P.* Parliamentary leader of the Labour Party, the Suppression of Com- munism Act is designed “ to suppress trade unionism and eventually democracy in South Africa.” In “ Trade Unions in Travail ” (to be published in Johannesburg later this month he gives a well-documented account of the 20-year campaign by the Nationalists to gain control of the trade union movement. Mr. Hepple recalls that, gramme, which aimed at placing wage control “entirely in the when the Act was passed in hands of the State." 1950, it was predicted that not The next year, Dr. Malan re­ only Communists would feel peated that “collective bargaining has outstayed its usefulness.” its lash. The prediction has Dr. Malan admitted that this come true. Active opponents meant that “the principal function of the Government, whatever of the present trade unions will their political views, have been disappear.” deprived of their jobs. Mr. Hepple shows how the trade Examples union movement, already, has been split into three main groups, each with its own co-ordinating coun­ gTAGE by stage, the Nation­ cil. Colour prejudice has been alists have carried out their exploited; Whites have been pitted plans—and one by one they against non-Whites; and White have attacked the trade unions, workers have been divided by the encouragement of a feeling of singling out the most im­ “separateness" among Afrikaans­ portant ones first. speaking workers. Mr. Hepple deals with several of these bigger trade unions: MINEWORKERS’ UNION: In Keep Its Grip 1936 a rich Stellenbosch woman donated £10,000 to rescue Afrikaans JJRITISH artisans, Mr. Hepple miners from the evil influences of writes, brought trade the Rand. Subsequently, the “Re­ unionism to South Africa when formers” movement was started in the Mineworkers’ Union. A com­ the Afrikaans-speaking worker mission inquiring into its activi­ had barely begun his trek to ties in 1941 found that the “Re­ the cities and when the Native formers” were being “disruptive was a pick-and-shovel labourer. and detrimental to the interests of But to-day, tens of thousands of the workers.” Afrikaners are members of trade The Reformers stated their aim unions, and Natives constitute was to "link the mineworkers with more than half the labour force all other Christian-National trade in the towns. unions.” They added that once The Government is attempting they controlled the miners they to master this situation by root­ would turn to the Garment ing out traditional trade unionism. Workers’ Union. In this way, it hopes to keep Its GARMENT WORKERS: Since grip on the urbanised Afrikaner. 1932 this union, and its general The campaign for "Christian- secretary, Mr. E. S. Sachs, have National” trade unions began in been the target of the Nationalist the early 1930’s. The aim was to attacks. Four months after the wean the Afrikaner away from Nationalists came to power fight­ “un-South African” trade unions. ing broke out at a union meeting The “Reddingsdaadfonds,” estab­ on the City Hall steps. Mr. Schoe- lished to help poor Afrikaners, man appointed a commission to became in 1939 the “Reddingsdaad- inquire not only into the distur­ bance, but into the general affairs bond,” working for the political of the union. The commission’3 “salvation” of Afrikaners. report, in fact, made recommenda­ tions affecting fundamental trade “Afrikaner Front” union principles. Recently, Mr. Sachs was “named’* JJERE is the story that Mr. and ordered to resign from the union. He is now in Britain. Hepple tells: BUILDING WORKERS’ UNION: Dr. Albert Hertzog (Nationalist The Mineworkers’ Union, after the M.P.) told a “national economic Nationalists came to power, started conference” in 1939 of the a newspaper which launched “menace” of trade unionism to attacks against the leadership of Afrikaner workers, and urged that the Amalgamated Union of Build­ the Reddingsdaadbond should ing Trade Workers. The newspaper make adequate funds available to accused Mr. Piet Huyser, national “reform” the trade unions. organiser, and Mr. W. Blake, gene­ The aim of the Reddingsdaad­ ral secretary, of being Communists. bond was “to prevent Afrikaner Recently, Mr. Huyser was named, workers developing as a class and has now been banned from distinct from other classes in the taking part in the union’s affairs. Afrikaans national life." LEATHERWORKERS’ UNION: The Reddingsdaadbond began Mr. Hepple quotes this as “an by telling Afrikaans workers that example of what can happen to a trade unionism was-hostile to their peaceful, well-conducted union church and traditions and disloyal once it is subject to Government to the country. Then, a “national interference.” Mr. W. Kalk was unity committee” was set up— secretary of the union for 22 years. consisting of the Federation of He was named and banned. Imme­ diately, a crisis was precipitated in Afrikaans Cultural Societies, the the union. A minority group be­ Reddingsdaadbond, the Ossewa- came active and attacked the brandwag and the three Dutch union’s executive. A meeting called Reformed Churches—to fight on to discuss a motion of confidence social, cultural, religious, educa- SAAMTREK 29 Januarf* 1954 a is -Carl Rehm On 'Trade Unions In Travail" T ™ of Unity Publications (Pty.) Ltd Mr C °, thf S° ,,th ^rican Trades and T a W »=,- SMsssl: ssj'^r SSsj^^SigMr- A1“ ^ irwas Trade unions can buy directly simple language the story of from Saamtrek at 3/6 per copy South African trade unions and (3/9 post free) but bulk orders the many difficulties facing the of not less than 100 copies can workers. be obtained at the reduced price of 2/6 a copy. “It contains valuable excerpts “This is no ordinary book,” from important declarations, re­ | says Mr. Rehm. “In fourteen ports and documents relating to South African trade union and j chapters it sets out, in clear and political history.” Mr. Rehm states that Mr Hepple was well equipped to deal with the subject of his book, com­ ing from a typical working class Hepple warns family and being born and bred m South Africa. Alex, trudged the streets together with thou­ trade unions sands of others who formed the Carl Rehm huge army of unemployed in search of work during the great respected even by his greatest against depression. political enemies for his ability, “A a public man who has his sincerity and his devotion risen from the ranks of the to the cause of our working Nat. plans workers, Alex. is admired and sons and daughters.” From the Political Correspondent CAPE TOWN, Monday.—At a critical moment in the life of the trade union movement—the eve of radical amendments to the Industrial Conciliation Act—the leader of the Labour Party, Mr. A. Hepple, M.P., has warned the trade unions that the Government plan to break their power, shatter their unity and reduce them to “the role of friendly or benefit societies.” Mr. Hepple gives this warning in a book “Trade Unions in Travail,” published by Unity Publication, the purpose of which, he says, is to enable workers to see as a connected story the apparently isolated incidents that go to make up the labour pattern in South Africa Mr. Hepple’s story, every major point of which is supported by references, shows how the Broeder- bond and its tentacles conceived the belief that the trade union movement in its present form was an obstacle to their monopoly of power and influence over the Afrikaans-speaking workers. Out of this follows their capture of the Mine Workers’ Union and their endeavours, so far unsuccess­ ful, to capture the Garment Workers’ Union and Leather Workers’ Union. He describes how the Suppres­ sion of Communism Act has been used to weaken the structure of trade unions generally by re­ moving leaders and placing them under restraint. DANGEROUS DEVELOPMENTS Then comes what Mr. Hepple thinks is oirn^f the most danger­ ous developments of alj — laws such as the Native Building Workers’ Act and the Native Labour (Settlement of Disputes) Act, which separate Native workers from White and place them on an inferior footing. He says this not 1 only destroys the unity of the < workers but imperils the White i workers with the danger of under­ cutting. ( Finally, Mr. Hepple describes .< how the propagation of unjustified < and unnecessary racial prejudices 1 has ^divided trade unions, in­ ternally and against one another, s robbing them of the cohesion ' which, he says, is their only hope f of survival. ~ TftftD/r Oh to H i. IN CAPE TIMES A g ita sie taiW/wi- rpOE ale Nasionale regering dle wetsontwerp aan die gang in 1948 aan die bewind gesit deur die Trades and TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1954. • gekom het, het hy ondersoek Labour Council en sy dubbel- laat instel na die uitvoer- ganger die Arbeidersparty. baarheid van apartheid in Die Sap-pers loop, soos inder- Disciplining the People die Suid-Afrikaanse vakbond- tyd met ’n dergelike agitasie wese. Die Botha-kommissie teen die uitwerping van Kom- AS is usual with this Government’s het die vraagstuk deurtastend muniste uit die vakbonde, radical measures, a silence is being nagegaan en in sy lywige gedienstig agterna. preserved about the details of the bill to verslag aanbeveel dat die Die Trades and Labour apartheidsbeginsel aanvaar Council en die Arbeidersparty put an end to the trade union system as word, maar met ’n verskei- se woede is verstaanbaar. we and the rest of the world outside ] denheid van voorbehoude en Min. Schoeman het hulle in authoritarian countries know it. The voorsorgmaatreels, want, soos hierdie saak, soos in ander die verslag tereg beklemtoon, arbeidsake, nie geken nie, om measure will probably be produced on the geld dit netelige aspekte van die baie eenvoudige rede dat eve of its introduction and forced through ons nywerheidslewe en ons albei hierdie instellings nie- with perfunctory attention to the views of arbeidsorganlsasie. mand verteenwoordig behalwe Sedert die kommissie in ’n kliek van linksgesinde critics or the opinions of the workers 1951 gerapporteer het, het die afwykelinge in die vakbond- concerned. The bill, if usual form is Minister van Arbeid, mnr. B. wese nie. maintained, will probably be described as J. Schoeman, die aanbeve- Aan die voorpunt van die a means of strengthening and improving lings met die oog op uiteinde- agitasie staan mnr. A. Hepple, like wetgewing in noue L.V., wat ’n vlugskrif uitgegee the trade union system. The High Court oorleg met belanghebbendes het met die tema dat die of Parliament was presented as a monu­ bestudeer. Nou is die saak Broederbond daarop uit is om ment of constitutionalism, the Communist so ver gevorder dat ’n voor- die vakbondwese te vernietig, Act and similar measures as a blow for lopige wetsontwerp opgestel en die Cape Times praat civil liberties, the Coloured Vote Act as an is as basis vir verdere same- geesdriftig saam. Waarom exercise in national good faith and the sprgkinge met vakbondver- andersins intelligente mense Citizenship Act as a “ little bill on the lines teenwoordigers. Die voorlo- met ’n normale. beskaafde of the Canadian statute”. plge wetsontwerp sal, in die afkeer van propaganda van The public should not be deceived. It lig Van die onderhandelinge, die aard van die „Protokolle is the intention of this Government, for gewysig word voordat dit, van die Ouderlinge van Sion”, hopelik nog in die huidige nog steeds meedoen aan pro­ ideological purposes, to eliminate trade Sitting, aan die Parlement paganda van die aard van unions. Enforced apartheid (that is, voorgele word. die „Protokolle van die Broe­ instructing trade unions on whom they In heel sy optrede het min. derbond”, is moeilik om te shall admit to membership) and the Schoeman uit sy pad gegaan begryp. In elk geval vernietig recognition of more than one union in an om die groots moontlike hulle hul eie strewe met histe­ industry (to allow for the creation of samewerking van die vak- riese buitensporighede van politically-dominated splinter unions) bonde te verkry sodat hy so hierdie soort. will kill trade unionism as certainly as the na as moontlik ’n ooreenge- Ewewigtige mense sal in more direct course of adding trade unions kome wetsontwerp by die aanmerking neem dat Suid- to the oi^anizations which the Minister of Volksraad kan indien. Hierin Afrika se arbeidswetgewing het hy dan ook aansienlike sy beslag onder die eerste Justice is empowered to put out of sukses behaal. Hoe na aan Nasionale bewind gekry het, existence when the spirit moves him The absolute sukses dit sal wees, en dat die tweede Nasionale record leaves no doubt of the lethal sal eers kan blyk w? "eer die bewind, soos die eerste, na intentions of the Government. The public finale wetsontwerp gepubli- byna ses jaar nog steeds deur is indebted to Mr A. Hepple, M.P., for seer word. Inmidd .m verdien merkwaardige arbeidsrus ge- setting out some of this record in a min. Schoeman eg ,r alle lof kenmerk word. Hiervolgens pamphlet “ Trade Unions in Travail,” vir die wyse we ,op hy ’n sal hulle die gesindheid tus- which has just been published by Unity moeilike en poter.sieel stryd- sen die Nasionale Party en Publications. wekkende vraog.cuk benader die werker beoordeel, en nie The attack on the trade unions is part het. volgens die beweringe van Maar plotr cling Is nou, mense wat met hul luidrug- of a larger objective, described in a voordat die voile feite bekend tigheid die onbetroubaarheid “Declaration of People’s Organizations” is, ’n histeriese agitasie teen van hul saak verraai nie. (which Dr. Malan formally accepted), as: a free, independent, Republican, Christian-National State, based upon the word of God, eschewing all foreign models . . with a Christian-National educational system . . . and the strongest emphasis upon the effective disciplining of the people. A little more specific is *the statement of the chairman of the Reddingsdaadbond, the Rev. Jac Conradie, in 1952: The Afrikaner worker is to-day forced to subject himself to the existing trade unions so that approximately half of the Afrikaner nation is to-day ensnared in the powerful machinery of the trade unions . . an enormous task awaits There is much more on these lines. But to rescue the Afrikaner nation from the the over-riding fact is clear. Collective claws of this un-national power. bargaining is to go and arbitrary power, Even less doubt is left by Mr. Schoeman. is to be exercised by Nationalist the Minister who will be in charge of this politicians and Nationalist ■ nominated bill. He was speaking in Parliament in bureaucrats and delegates. And this in a 1942, giving some ideas of the principles country which for years has enjoyed of a disciplined Christian-National industrial peace based fundamentally on State ”: negotiation in terms of the classical trade . . . (firstly) that wage control and union system And part of this ideological wage fixation should be. entirely in the lunacy is to set up an industrial caste- hands of the State and that the power system, the statutory creation of an should be exercised through the medium of (a permanent board) . . . secondly, economic proletariat There is no better and this is the most important prin­ method of creating industrial instability ciple, self-government in industry must and, finally, economic disaster. All that be eliminated self-government in is left to wonder is how much longer our industry and collective bargaining are things of the past . . . The time has nation, descendants of the British, the arrived that in the interests of the State, Dutch and the French, will knuckle down in the interests of the employer and to this process of “ disciplining ” by a employee, self-government in industry and collective bargaining should be group of politicians. eliminated from our economic life . . .” A d U M + u . ADVA X/K. T 'f& jjC u J Hepple warns (trade unions

^ a g a i n s t they will surrender themselves to Nat. plans Address letters to Advance slavery.’’ Post, 6 Barrack Street, Cape This is the message which the From the Political Correspondent Town. Some of the letters book attempts to get across to every worker. It is this which Miss CAPE TOWN, Monday—At a below have been shortened or critical moment in the life of the extracts only printed. Alexander should have stressed in her review. trade union movement—the eve of radical amendments to the (Mr. Cooke has misunderstood Industrial Conciliation Act—the Ray Alexander’s criticisms. She leader of the Labour Party, Mr. A. TRADE UNIONS IN did not demand a detailed analysis Hepple, M.P., has warned the trade TRAVAIL of the position of Afrikaans wor­ unions that the Government plan kers, but said that the book failed to break their power, shatter then- From Peter Cooke, Main Road, to go into one of the key questions unity and reduce them to “the Mowbray, Cape. related directly to the story of the role of friendly or benefit I read with interest Ray Alex­ Nat. plan to control unions. IVHY societies.” ander’s criticism of Alex Hepple’s WERE THE NATS. SO SUC­ Mr. Hepple gives this warning in booklet, “Trade Unions in Tra­ CESSFUL AMONG AFRI­ a book “Trade Unions in Travail,” vail.” I cannot say that Ray KAANS-SPEAKING WORKERS? published by Unity Publication," Alexander has really ‘hit the nail The Nats, arc not the only ones to the purpose of which, he says, is on the head’ this time. She blame. The trade union leaders to enable workers to see as a! praises the way in which the (among them those in Mr. Hepple's connected story the apparently author has put together the damn­ party) who failed to give their isolated incidents that go to make ing evidence against Nat. infiltra­ nninnc POf ITiriT. lpnrl up the labour pattern in South tion in the Trade Unions, but then sary for an understanding of the Africa has two main criticisms, viz: (a) class struggle, played into the Mr. Hepple’s story, every major deeper analysis of the working hands of the Broederbond and point of which is supported by class, Afrikaans workers, etc., were a very important part of “the references, shows how the Broeder­ should have been made, and (b) story of the Broederbond-National­ bond and its tentacles conceived the book practically ignores Non- ist plan.” the belief that the trade union European Trade Unions. movement in its present form was And speaking of Non-European an obstacle to their monopoly of The first criticism is partially unions she criticised Hepple for not power and influence over the valid, but isn’t Miss Alexander taking into account “the most im­ Afrikaans-speaking workers. demanding more of this book than portant issue of all—the relation­ Out of this follows their capture it itself sets as its task? The book ship between the different racial of the Mine Workers’ Union and is sub-titled “The story of the groups.” their endeavours, so far unsuccess- Broederbond-Nationalist Plan to The Nats, only succeeded be­ ! ful, to capture the Garment Control S.A. Trade Unions.” It cause, there again, by shirking the Workers’ Union and Leather does not pretend to be a compre­ cardinal importance of fighting all Workers’ Union. hensive analysis of the structure, out against the laws which divide He describes how the Suppres- j history, development, etc. of the the workers of our country into sion of Communism Act has been Trade Unions. As Miss Alexan­ hostile national groups (and in­ used to weaken the structure of der says, “we still need (such) an stead abetting the colour bar, as trade unions generally by re­ account.” the Labour Party did) the bulk of moving leaders and placing them The second criticism is largely trade union leaders played accord­ under restraint. ing to the Nat. rules. unbased in fact. Mr. Hepple is DANGEROUS DEVELOPMENTS dealing with trade unions, i.e., or­ These are precisely the main rea­ ganised workers. How many Non- sons why to-day the Trade Unions Then comes what Mr. Hepple Europeans are organised—danger­ are in Travail. thinks is on^ rf the most danger­ ously few. Mr. Hepple goes into The sections you quote in con­ ous developments of all — laws some detail of all the laws which clusion are correct, but the book­ such as the Native Building affect African workers, organised let lost force in that the author Workers’ Act and the Native and unorganised, showing how shirked to go into THE REASONS Labour (Settlement of Disputes) for the correct conclusions.— Act, which separate Native workers trade unionism is practically stifled Editor. from White and place them on an for Non-Europeans. And as he inferior footing. He says this not says, the inroads of the Nats, on only destroys the unity of the certain unions, the Suppression of workers but imperils the White Communism Act, etc., affects all | workers with the danger of under- workers, whatever their race. ; cutting. The real main theme of the Finally, Mr. Hepple describes booklet comes out in the Conclu­ how the propagation of unjustified ding chapter when the author and unnecessary racial prejudices states: has divided traije unions, in­ “Despite discouragement and re­ ternally and against one another, pressive laws Non-European trade robbing them of the cohesion unions will rise and become power­ which, he says, is their only hope ful. That is the lesson of history of survival. ... Trade unions cannot be looked upon simply as organisations to defend their members against capi­ talist exploitation. In South Africa they must be seen as part of the movement to educate and advance all the people to a better life ... Racial fears may make many white trade union leaders afraid to sup­ port that view. Yet it is the true answer to the future of democracy in South Africa .. . Working-class unity is needed now. Workers should no longer allow themselves to be duped by cunning appeals to racial prejudices and cries of ‘Com­ munism’ . . . If they fail to do that Ray Alexander’s Trade Union Column “ Trade Unions in Travail” y p r______Alex. Hepple, Parliamentary leader of the Labour Party, has written a booklet, “Trade Unions in Travail” (Unity Publica­ 60 per cent, of the 45,000 factory tions), price 3s. 6d., and Ray Alexander writes about it this workers; week. 60 per cent, of the 2,400 engin- 70 per cent, of the 20,000 railway d~kNE of the standard accusations and disrupt existing trade unions officials; levelled by the enemies of the with the object of ousting a work­ 83 per cent, of the 6,000 building workers against “Communist” ing class leadership and substitut­ workers. trade unionists is that they organ­ ing for it men and women pledged ■—Die Burger, 8.2.54. ise workers for “their” own pur­ to sponsor the cause of their I doubt the accuracy of the pose. This is what Schoeman has party. And the Schoeman Bill is figures, but it is undeniable that largely relied upon to justify his the latest confirmation of this. Afrikaans-speaking workers form blows against free trade unionism. In that respect Alex. Hepple a majority of the European In fact, however, as Schoeman has done a good job, which workers in most industries. has more than once admitted in needed doing. In the light of the Parliament, some of the best trade It should be explained how the material he has put together it disruptive agencies succeeded in unionists in South Africa were is very evident that the Nation among those whom Swart listed their evil designs to the extent alist attacks upon free trade that they have. Why, lor instance, and banned as being Communists, unionism via the Suppression of and “best” in this context means have the Nats captured the Euro­ Communism Amendment Act, the pean mine workers and the steel not making propaganda for any expulsion of trade union leaders, political party but doing an honest workers? Why has it made such the Native Labour (Settlement of deep inroads in the transport, straight forward job of defending Disputes) Act and Schoeman’s the workers against exploitation building, furniture and other in­ proposed amendments to the In­ dustries? and helping them to obtain a dustrial Conciliation Act are part square deal from employers. of an evil scheme to expel the I believe that the answer to As a matter of fact, it is the honest working class leaders to this question would throw as Nats who made a practice of subject the trade unions to the much light upon trends in the organising trade unions (I should sjambok rule of the Nats and the trade union movement, as Hepple rather say disrupting them) for capitalist anti working class forces has done, by exposing the plots party political purposes. which dominate them. and underhand tactics of the This is the main theme of Alex. Broederbond and its allies. Hepple’s book, “Trade Unions in But this is only one side of the Travail.” story of the White trade union SERIOUS FAILING NEVER SUBSTANTIATED movement. There is another side, Another serious failing in The accusation against Com­ which also must be told to get Hepple’s account is that it deals munist trade unionists has never the trade union story in the cor­ in passing and very sketchily with been substantiated — the Botha rect perspective. the Non-European trade unions. Commission, after the fullest pos­ sible investigation, conducted by DEEPER ANALYSIS He apparently made up his a body which to the last man was REQUIRED mind to deal exclusively with the hostile to Communism, produced It is necessary to make a European trade unions. But one no evidence that the “lefts,” as deeper analysis of the entry of the cannot understand the develop­ the commission calls them, were Afrikaans-speaking worker into ments in any section of the trade organising unions for political industry and the increasingly im union movement without taking purposes. portant role he is playing there. into account the most important But Mr. Hepple provides an Dr. Van Aswegen, secretary of issue of all—the relationship be­ abundance of proof to show that the Economic Institute of the tween the different racial groups. the Ossewa Brandwag, Broeder- F.A.K., estimates that on the Surely this is what Hepple has bond, F.A.K. and other sections Rand Afrikaans speaking workers omitted, and his picture is there­ of Afrikaner nationalism made a form fore distorted. We still need a full planned, systematic and well 85 per cent, of the 12,000 Euro­ and accurate account of South financed effort to penetrate into pean miners; African trade unionism. T. (J / &AVA ( l .

14 FIGHTING TALK March, 1954.

!*P CONTROLLED UNIONS sumed office. In terms of this Act they LA The truth of Schoeman’s repeated pro- have removed almost the entire wing of / testations that he does not wish to “de- trade union leaders which does not fall . stroy” the trade union movement be­ under Mr. Walker’s definition of “jelly comes clear. Far from wishing to de­ fish”. stroy trade unions, the Nationalists have This was the preparatory step to the followed Hitler’s argument, as set out in complete shackling of the unions — the Mein Kampf, that the unions are of Nat. argument probably being that it paramount importance and that effect­ would be an easy walk-over once the ively controlled, they would be a power­ militants were gone. The second attack ful means of “disciplining the people.” now unfolds. TRADE UNIONS IN TRAVAIL, by Alex The “Afrikaner Front” (including re­ Mr. Hepple analyses the denial of the Hepple, M.P. Published by Unity presentatives of the F.A.K., O.B., Red- rights to African workers by means of Publications (Pty.J Ltd. Price 3/6. dingsdaadbond and Dutch Reformed the Native Labour (Settlement of Dis­ Obtainable at all bookshops. Churches) set this as their target in a putes) Act, alterations to the Native “The rapid industrialisation of Af­ declaration thirteen years ago — one of Labour Regulation Act, the Native rica must be paralleled with equally the many interesting documents quoted Building Workers’ Act and the Mines rapid developments in the organisa­ by Mr. Hepple. They then went forward and Works Act. tion of labour from which the Black to “rescue the Afrikaner workers from The long-standing desire of the Nat­ man cannot be excluded . . . Work­ the claws of unnational trade union­ ionalists to carve up the mixed unions ing-class unity is needed now. Work­ ism. ’ Die Blanke Werkersbeskermings- is demonstrated. Mr. Hepple warns trade ers should no longer allow themselv­ bond was the direct instrument of poli­ union leaders who remain silent because es to be duped by cunning appeals to tical nationalism, campaigning under they hope nothing really drastic will racial prejudice and cries of “Com­ the useful banner of “Christian Nation­ happen, that they are underestimating munism”. They should stand together alism” in union after union. the Nationalists. and help to create trade union unity.” Schoeman’s ravings of a decade ago He deals with the Industrial Legisla­ These are the all-important conclu­ against the principles of collective bar­ tion Commission’s report, and subse­ sions to which Alex Hepple, Parliamen­ gaining are recaled, as well as many quent developments, which forms the tary Leader of the Labour Party, comes other statements, clearly showing that basis for Mr. Schoeman’s new indus­ in his book “Trede Unions in Travail”, under the “dynamic and progressing trial legislation to be introduced later published in January to tell “the story policy” of the new order, the class- this Session. of the Broederbond-Nationalist Plan to struggle would be stopped, waees and What is the answer to this threat? control South African trade unions.” working conditions regulated by the Mr. Hepple gives it as an immediate This book has been primarily directed great white father of the workers, the rallying of workers 6i all colours. “If at the organised, but often conservative “Christian National” State (neither the White workers persist in swallow­ trade union movement, to show in the Christian, nor National), and labour or­ ing the propaganda that the non-Euro­ face of Mr. Schoeman’s new Industrial ganisations rigidly controlled. pean worker threatens their existence Conciliation Bill, the unfolding of the The sad story of the Mine Workers’ and as a result support reactionary poli­ Nationalist plan to create a servile Union, its use as a base from which to cies, their unions will degenerate into movement, which they will be able to attack other unions, and the subsequent artificial forms. On the other hand, de­ control politically. unsavoury happenings in the adminis­ spite discouragement and repressive For a proper understanding of what tration of that union is told. laws non-European trade unions will Mr. Schoeman’s new I.C. Bill means, it Mr. Hepple recounts the onslaught on rise and become powerful.” is essential to analyse Nationalist inten­ the Garment Workers’ Union, from lb ■ In South Africa trade unions must be tions as pressed in policy declarations first attacks in 1931 by gangs of hooli­ seen as part of the movement to educate gans shouting “We are Nationalists”, to and advance all the peoples to a better over the past two decades. It is no use life, he says. stating, as certain conservative leaders the dreadful spectacle of baton-wielding are doing now, that the trade unions police, under Nationalist rule in 1952. His stand is far more realistic than must wait for the final draft of Schoe- beating down women on the Johannes­ that of many contemporary trade union man'e Bill before a programme of action burg City Hall steps. There are also leaders. He deserves credit not only for is launched. This self-evident truth is the stories of the Building and Leather collecting in lucid form a gr~at many seen even by men like Mr. Ivan Walker, Workers’ Unions. declarations and documents illustrating who has described much of the trade But the Nat. plan could not have Nationalist policy — which make of union leadership as “jellied”. reached the dangerous stage of today, “Trade Unions in Travail” an excellent had the Nationalists not succeeded to handbook — but for putting squarely Whatever changes the Minister might become the Government. before trade unionists what is really make to his draft Bill, he will not aban­ at stake and for giving the correct and don his basic plan to shatter the move­ USING THE LAW only possible remedy — working-class ment into warring racial groups, curtail After 194-8 follows the practical ap­ unity, irrespective of race and colour. strike rights and set the stage for whole­ plication of their dangerous policies by sale invasion by his stooges. means of ever worsening repressive —DAWIE COUZYN. It is this development of Nationalist legislation. The cornerstone on which trad? union policy and its steady appli­ the Nats, built their post-1948 attack on The annual subscription to cation that Mr. Hepple analyses in his the trade unions) their white-anting hav­ "FIGHTING TALK" is 5/-. Be­ book which tells how the Broederbond ing, on the whole, failed miserably) was come a subscriber NOW. Send Parted its campaign in the early thir­ the Suppression of Communism Act, your 5/- to P.O. Box 1355, Johan­ ties. first introduced two years after they as­ nesburg.

Collection Number: A3393

Collection Name: Bob Hepple Papers

PUBLISHER:

Publisher: Historical Papers Research Archive, University of the Witwatersrand Location: Johannesburg ©2015

LEGAL NOTICES:

Copyright Notice: All materials on the Historical Papers website are protected by South African copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, or otherwise published in any format, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

Disclaimer and Terms of Use: Provided that you maintain all copyright and other notices contained therein, you may download material (one machine readable copy and one print copy per page) for your personal and/or educational non-commercial use only.

People using these records relating to the archives of Historical Papers, The Library, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, are reminded that such records sometimes contain material which is uncorroborated, inaccurate, distorted or untrue. While these digital records are true facsimiles of paper documents and the information contained herein is obtained from sources believed to be accurate and reliable, Historical Papers, University of the Witwatersrand has not independe ntly verified their content. Consequently, the University is not responsible for any errors or omissions and excludes any and all liability for any errors in or omissions from the information on the website or any related information on third party websites accessible from this website.

This document forms part of a collection held at the Historical Papers Research Archive, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.