Trade Union Movement

Question 1

Who was Clements Kadalie

Answer 1

First black leader of the first black trade union

Question 2

What was the first trade union know as

Answer 2

It was the industrial and commercial workers union.

Question 3

What was the next union to represent black workers

Answer 3

The South African congress of trade unions.

Question 4

Which trade union was aligned with the ANC

Answer 4

SACTU

Question 5

Compare SACTU and the ANC

Answer 5

SACTU and the ANC were both military, but the when the ANC was exiled, but SACTU wasn’t. However many of SACTU’s members were banned or restricted so it was forced to go underground and the trade union movement lost effectiveness as a result.

Question 6

Why was there a sudden burst in trade unions in 1973

Answer 6

As a result of poor working and living conditions and the new ideas put forward by the BCM, a wave of strikes for higher wages swept through the country.

Question 7

Where did the strikes start

Answer 7

With the dockworkers in Durban

Question 8

How did people realise they could make changes

Answer 8

When they started striking, they say the power and influence it had over the government and the economy

Question 9

What did unions start to do now that they had a voice

Answer 9

Thy felt more confident in forming links with community organisations such as churches and students’ and women’s groups.

Question 10

Who were most of the UDF’s members

Answer 10

Local civics organisations that focused on single commentary issues such as housing, retail, service charges, and bus and train fare increases. These organisations often organised boycotts and stay-aways. These sometimes led to violent clashes with the police.

Question 11

What was UDF

Answer 11

A liberation movement

Question 12

What were some other liberation movements

Answer 12

Azanian people’s organisation and Azanian students’ organisation.

Question 13

What soon became the purpose of all the organisation

Answer 13

Getting rid of apartheid

Question 14

What would happen if the unions united

Answer 14

They could undertake large scale action against the government. The government would have to note their demands. It would also mean the end of small labour-related and political incidents that the government had found easy to suppress

Question 15

How many unions were involved in the combinations of trade union

Answer 15

33

Question 16

What were the unions united in

Answer 16

Their opposition to apartheid, the South African government and in the desire to achieve better wages and working conditions.

Question 17

What was the new federation of trade unions called

Answer 17

COSATU

Question 18

Where was COSATU inaugurated

Answer 18

In Durban

Question 19

What emerged with the new federation

Answer 19

FOSATU

Question 20

What did both of the first two men in charge or COSATU want to do

Answer 20

They wanted to take military action against the apartheid government, but realised much organising still had to be done.

Question 21

Who were the workerists

Answer 21

They were the people that wanted to focus more narrowly on workers’ demands.

Question 22

Who were the charterists

Answer 22

The people that wanted to focus on broader political demands

Question 23

What happed on 1 May

Answer 23

There was a large work stay-away. Workers demanded the declaration of the official May Day

Question 24

What complaint did the government have about COSATU

Answer 24

That it was just a front organisation for the ANC. They started to act against it.

Question 25

What other institution was not happy with the launch of COSATU

Answer 25

The IFP which had many differences with the ANC

Question 26

What was the IFP

Answer 26

Zulu-based cultural organisation which became a political party. It’s leader favoured capitalism and a separate identity and territory for the Zulu people