THE recent bitter strike launched black municipal in Johannesburg workers part of a much wider struggle the South African government and the new, rising organisations of the working class.
For the past five years black WULACIS have been TRen organisation, despite the complete denial of trade reus to back workers under tae apartheid system.
Given the growing importance of hack workers to ure boull African economy, government to make some conces black unions.
But it was determined to give no steadily more arounu lau riccassal y back workers unions are not almost entitled to basic trade union rights union condition that "registered" with ine allows the state to interfere in their operation and to prevent them taking up 'political issues — like the this forced the injustice of the whole apartheid importantly, unions are 'racially-mixed' - that is they caninclude both coloured workers This is nothing they are blatant attempt to divide-and-rule.
One of the main reasons most 'coloured' because they allowed be 'African' and short a eastered boss.
black unions have rejected registra-. Municipality Workers Union, not tial coloured memberssup, an own affairs.
represent black represent workers in industries where there are members or ool groups In tne workforce and where unity of the entire workforce is essential to efThe South African government understanding has responded by declaring war on The Johannesburg city council refused to negotiate with the Black and interference.
but because it is an unregistered union that insisted on is açmoctauc rigal to decide Its This is a basic principle of trades unionism and which every British trade unionists will should translate this into sympathy by giving the black trade union move. ment in South Africa the support it needs to establish its democratic right to exist free of state controls