ICFTU Calls for Trade Union Action Against Apartheid
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ICFTU Calls for Trade Union Action Against Apartheid http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.SFF.DOCUMENT.nuun1974_17 Use of the Aluka digital library is subject to Aluka’s Terms and Conditions, available at http://www.aluka.org/page/about/termsConditions.jsp. By using Aluka, you agree that you have read and will abide by the Terms and Conditions. Among other things, the Terms and Conditions provide that the content in the Aluka digital library is only for personal, non-commercial use by authorized users of Aluka in connection with research, scholarship, and education. The content in the Aluka digital library is subject to copyright, with the exception of certain governmental works and very old materials that may be in the public domain under applicable law. Permission must be sought from Aluka and/or the applicable copyright holder in connection with any duplication or distribution of these materials where required by applicable law. Aluka is a not-for-profit initiative dedicated to creating and preserving a digital archive of materials about and from the developing world. For more information about Aluka, please see http://www.aluka.org ICFTU Calls for Trade Union Action Against Apartheid Alternative title Notes and Documents - United Nations Centre Against ApartheidNo. 17/74 Author/Creator United Nations Centre against Apartheid Publisher Department of Political and Security Council Affairs Date 1974-07-00 Resource type Reports Language English Subject Coverage (spatial) South Africa Coverage (temporal) 1974 Source Northwestern University Libraries Description Statement by the ICFTU Executive Board, 31 May 1974. Statement submitted by the ICFTU Representative, Mr. Andrew Kailembo to the Special Committee on Apartheid in Geneva, 1 June 1974. List of the companies with investment and interests in South Africa, complied by the ICFTU. Format extent 24 page(s) (length/size) http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.SFF.DOCUMENT.nuun1974_17 http://www.aluka.org wo.17/74 NOTESANDDOCUMENTS* July1974 wo.17/74 NOTESANDDOCUMENTS* July1974 ICFL'U CALLS FOR TRADE UNION ACTION AGAINST APARTHEID ane StatementbytheICFTUExecutiveBod,31May1974-... ...... Statement submitted by the ICFTU R resentative, Mr. G6drew -X-&ebo, to the Special Committee on A arth id in Geneva, 1 June I974 f .. 2 List of the companies with inves ent and interests in South AfPca, compiledbytheICFTUP**.. $. ........ 5 Lfte: The International Confederatiofl o Ta nions recently compiled a list of over 1,6 companies with inves ttmr &nterests in South Africa. This list, prepared on the basis of infor ifg the affiliated organizations and International Trade Secretariats i means complete, but includes most of the major foreign inves rn Africa. The ICFTU has, for many years, opposed apartheid in South Africa and has recognized that one of the most effective ways of exerting pressure on the South African r6gime into relinquishing apartheid is through the economic weapon. It said in an introduction to the list of companies: "The role played by foreign investors in helping South Africa retain its status quo is tremendous. Such investors strengthen the country politically as well as economically and are only too happy to exploit apartheid policies to their own advantage. The result is illustrated in statistics showing the wage gap between white and African employees of such companies; the working conditions of the African employees; and the refusal of employers to recognize African trade unions. "The research which is now being done is aimed at a full-scale campaign launched simultaneously by the free trade union movement the world over. Our determined and concerted action cannot fail to bring tangible results to the African workers of South Africa who have so long been denied all trade union and human rights.f 74-18856 *All material in these notes and documents may be freely reprinted. Acknowledgement, together with a copy of the publication containing the reprint, would be appreciated. STATEMENT BY THE ICFTU EXECUTIVE BOARD ON SOUTH AFRICA 31 May 1974 The ICFTU Executive Board, after a thorough review of the situation in South Africa, reconfirmed its mandate to the General Secretary to continue taking firm action for the establishment of trade union and human rights for the African workers in South Africa, and to give maximum assistance to the African workers in their efforts to establish trade unions. It urged national centres to create appropriate machinery for this purpose, as well as for the effective implementation of the resolution adopted by the International Trade Union Conference Against Apartheid (Geneva, June 1973). Having before it a list of investors in South Africa, the Board adopted a policy resolution which strongly denounced employers and investors in South Africa, who constantly flout internationally-recognized labour standards. It urged affiliated organizations in industrialized countries to put strongest pressure, including industrial action, to ensure that these companies conform to internationally-recognized labour standards, failing which they would be pressurized to withdraw. Affiliated organizations were further urged to investigate into South African recruiting offices in their respective countries and into all media used by South Africa for recruitment purposes and to take action to discourage emigration to South Africa. The Executive Board decided that a special ICFTU coordinating committee be established for the implementation of the above policy and it is expected to begin its operations forthwith. An emergency resolution was adopted as news came to the Board of further shooting by South African police of African miners demonstrating for higher wages at one of the gold mines owned by the Anglo American Corporation, which was the same concern that had called in police to shoot African miners in a similar demonstration in Carltonville last year. -2 STATEMENT SUBMITTED BY THE ICFTU REPRESENTATIVE, MR. ADRhW KAILEi4BO, in GENEVA, 1 June 1974 The situation in South Africa remains unchanged. The conditions of the African workers are still such that they are forced to resort to strike action. Such action is still illegal in spite of the bluff amendment to the Bantu Labour (Settlement of Disputes) Act, 1973, supposedly legalizing strikes. In January this year, 10,000 African textile workers came out on strike; they were followed by 5,000 metal workers. During the strikes by the textile workers, 250 were arrested and later 217 of them were fined a total of 2750. Those who support the African workers' cause are mercilessly repressed: four white trade unionists who supported the African workers' demands were subsequently served with banning orders. Truth about waae increases The so-called increases in African wages have already been overtaken by the Poverty Datum Line (PDL) whereas the British Parliamentary Select Committee reconnended in its report that the Minimum Effective Level (MEL), which is 50 per cent higher than the PDL, should be considered as the minimur wage. W'othing has been done to narrow the wage gap between African and white workers. Each time the Africans are given waUre increases, the white workers are given proportionally higher increases so as to ensure that the ratio remains the same. For example, in the mining sector, the Anglo American Corporation gave increases averaging 26 per cent to the African miners in April 1973, which gave them a monthly wage of £20. In June 1973, the Corporation granted average increases of £ 49.69 a month to the vhite miners, thus ensuring that the wage gap of 1:16 remained the same. The African workers also complain that when increases in the basic wage are obtained their bonuses are proportionally decreased, so that very little benefit is 1elt. Moreover, any advance in black employment opportunities such as the possession of a blastinC certificate, has to be paid for by substantial wage increases to white workers. Improvement only throuh African trade unions It is clear that any real improvement in the situation of the African workers can only be brought about by their own trade unions. All alternative solutions have been rejected by the African workers. The failure of works and liaison committees and of all other Government institutions of oppression has been obvious. It has been recognizedl even by some employers and Government people. The principle of working through registered trade unions cannot be acceptable to the African workers who remember that, even when they were supposedly members of what is known to be the most liberal South African national centre - the Trades Union Council of South Africa (TUCSA) - nothing was done to narrow the wage gap or to promote their employment opportunities. After TUCSA's expulsion of Africans from membership in 1969, Africans mistrust the white trade unions even further. It follows that the ICFTU cannot cooperate in any way with TUCSA in such circumstances. There has now been some talk of setting up so-called parallel unions for the African workers. Such unions would be under -the " w" of the registered unions. For example, the Confederation ol" Metal and Building Unions has decided to set up such a parallel union for Africans. The Confederation said the step was taken "to protect our members' living standards in the face of a growing flood of Africans into the industry . ." ! After the publication of the Rleport of the British Parliamentary Select Comiittee, representatives of foreign companies investing in South Africa, particularly