Federation of South African Labour Unions

The Federation of South African Labour Unions (FEDSAL) was a national trade union federation in South Africa.

History

The federation was established in 1959, as the Federation of Salaried Staff Associations, by four unions representing white-collar white workers:[1]

  • Electricity Supply Commission Salaried Staff Association
  • Industrial Salaried Staff Association
  • Mine Surface Chemicals Association
  • South African Broadcasting Staff Association

The federation achieved little over the years, by 1985, its affiliates had changed to:[2]

The dissolution of the Trade Union Council of South Africa in 1986 attracted new affiliates. It campaigned against the introduction of Value Added Tax, for a National Economic Forum, and to restructure the National Manpower Commission. It began admitting unions representing any workers, and in 1992 renamed itself as FEDSAL. By 1993, it had 13 affiliates, with a total of 204,176 members.[3]

In 1997, the federation merged with the Federation of Organisations Representing Civil Employees, to form the Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA).[4]

Affiliates

Union[5] Abbreviation Founded Left Reason not affiliated Membership (1992)[6]
ABSA Workers' Union ABSAWU 8,500
Administrative, Technical and Electronic Association of South Africa ATEASA 1996 1997 Transferred to FEDUSA N/A
Airline Pilots' Association of South Africa ALPA-SA 1997 Transferred to FEDUSA N/A
Artisan Staff Association ASA 1924 1997 Transferred to FEDUSA 15,500
Eskom Employees' Association EEA 1997 Transferred to FEDUSA 6,000
Financial Institution Workers' Union FIWU 1994 Merged into SASBO 13,000
Hospital Personnel Association of South Africa HOSPERSA 1994 1997 Transferred to FEDUSA 40,714
Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union IMATU 1996 1997 Transferred to FEDUSA N/A
Independent Performing Arts Trade Union IPATU 1997 Transferred to FEDUSA N/A
Industrial Salaried Staff Association ISSA 1997 Transferred to FEDUSA 4,000
Motor Industry Staff Association MISA 1949 1997 Transferred to FEDUSA 20,000
Nedcor Staff Society NEDSTAFF 6,000
Post and TELEKOM Association P&T 1997 Transferred to FEDUSA 12,673
Professional Health Organisation of South Africa PHOSA 1997 Transferred to FEDUSA N/A
Public and Allied Workers Union of South Africa PAWUSA 1967 1997 Transferred to FEDUSA N/A
Public Servants Association of South Africa PSA 1920 1997 Transferred to FEDUSA N/A
Salaried Staff Association SALSTAFF 1918 1997 Transferred to FEDUSA 16,000
South African Airways Flight Engineers' Association SAAFEA 1997 Transferred to FEDUSA N/A
South African Association of Municipal Employees SAAME 1919 1996 Merged into IMATU 50,000
South African Broadcasting Staff Association SABSA 1,612
South African Footplate Staff Association SAFSA 1905 1997 Transferred to FEDUSA 8,500
South African Hairdressers' Employees' Industrial Union SAHEIU 1944 1997 Transferred to FEDUSA 7,500
South African Society of Bank Officials SASBO 1916 1995 Transferred to COSATU 42,000
South African Teachers' Union SAOU 1905 1997 Transferred to FEDUSA N/A
Underground Officials' Association UOA 1919 1997 Transferred to FEDUSA 21,000
UNISA Administrative and Professional Staff Union 809

References

  1. ^ Directory of Labor Organizations: Africa. Washington DC: United States Department of Labor. 1962. p. 37.49.
  2. ^ "Functional federations and consultative councils" (PDF). South African Labour Bulletin. October 1985. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  3. ^ International Labour Organization (1993), Special Report of the Director-general on the Application of the Declaration Against Apartheid
  4. ^ "New labour force wins support". Mail & Guardian. 27 March 1997. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  5. ^ Von Holdt, Karl (May 1993). "In the number 2 spot" (PDF). South African Labour Journal. 17 (3). Retrieved 25 March 2021.