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4 Class Formation and the Politics of Social Mobility 5 Union Democracy Notes 4 Class Formation and the Politics of Social Mobility 1 The manner in which Eskom has increasingly ‘outsourced’ the ‘non-core’ functions performed by workers in the power stations to independent ‘con- tractors’ has meant that officials perceived that Eskom no longer hires manual workers, or ‘labourers’. As a result of this, any young ‘labourers’ working in the power stations are not being hired directly by the company and as a result do not form part of NUM’s membership. Hence it is often seen that the vast majority of younger workers entering into the workplace and who are becom- ing members of the union are skilled and well-educated workers. 2 It was sometimes said that ‘these young ladies’ or ‘the young wives’ should not be coming into the workforce and telling the older male workers what to do because it was considered ‘disrespectful’. 3 They are allowed to remain shop stewards even if this happens. 4 NUM has a purpose-built facility in Johannesburg – the Elijah Barayi Memorial Training Centre – which offers education and training to shop stewards and leaders ranging from ‘political education’ through to the basics of employ- ment law, negotiation tactics and the basics of employee representation and case work. 5 Indeed, those shop stewards that I was in contact with who were promoted said that they would stand for re-election. NUM Regional Chairperson, Piet Matosa, for example, was continuously elected into positions within the union despite formerly occupying a position in the mining company which he described as being ‘practically management’. 6 A research organisation which conducts research on behalf of the South African labour movement and has close ties with COSATU. 7 Workers referred to as ‘artisans’ within Eskom were generally skilled manual workers, for example, electricians, technicians or mechanics. 5 Union Democracy, Social Mobility and Stifled Militancy 1 This supports the SWOP survey finding about workers’ expectations of their shop stewards which found that only 1 per cent of workers did not expect their shop stewards to report back to them (Wood and Dibben 2006: 57). 2 Although it was very rarely something that workers could point to as having happened in their memory. 3 When I originally informed the Regional Chair that I would be going to Duvha and Arnot he told me that he would have preferred it had I been going where the union was ‘strong’ in both cases, but that the two sites would make a useful comparison because of this. 155 156 Notes 4 In fact, not only is Duvha closer to the regional offices, the full-time shop steward worked at Duvha before taking on his role and still had friends and connections at the power station. 5 Because, for example, one of them was a manager and had a company car. 6 The ‘1976 youth’ refers to what is recounted by union members – and in South African literature more broadly – as the younger generation of activists that emerged on the political scene following the Soweto uprising of 1976. 7 This was expressed by not only rank-and-file workers in the power stations but also some shop stewards in workshops. However, in the case of the latter it was unclear whether this reflected their actual beliefs or simply factional battles within the union itself. 8 When these statements were made workers would often cast around stating that ‘perhaps’ their leaders were ‘on Eskom salaries’. 9 It should be noted that this bewilderment was expressed at both power sta- tions and even branch officials themselves expressed being perplexed about what was happening at the national level. 10 For obvious reasons Eskom workers often used this image to describe the prospect of strike action that would cause power cuts. 11 Although this was later dropped. 12 This was the language most commonly used to describe the strike option. 13 Sometimes it was referred to as having a limb amputated and thus being rendered immobile. 14 Although there was a degree of disagreement as to whether this was a termi- nal decline or one that could be redressed through a radical organisational overhaul. 15 Although the ‘essential services’ apply to many of the public sector workplaces. 6 Exhausted or Regenerative Nationalism? 1 A traditional heavy leather whip. 2 This attitude was expressed at union gatherings to me by full-time shop stew- ards and regional union leaders. 3 This refers to an outbreak of cholera in Delmas in 2000. 4 For example, older relatives would be required to assist with child care if workers had young families. 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