Articles on trade union

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The first Labor Day was hardly a national holiday. Workers had to strike to celebrate it. Frank Leslie's Weekly Illustrated Newspaper's September 16, 1882

Have we forgotten the true meaning of Labor Day?

The holiday began as a strike against excessive workweeks but now bears little resemblance to its worker-centric origins, even as the founders' gains are slowly lost.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions, the country’s largest trade union federation, has been losing members. REUTERS/Rogan Ward

Has South Africa’s labour movement become a middle class movement?

The membership base of South Africa's trade union movement has undergone significant changes which begs the question: has it moved away from its working class roots to become a middle class movement.
Stable food prices are a central issue for South Africa’s Reserve Bank. But should it be doing more to protect the poor? Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko

South Africa needs a sensible debate about its Reserve Bank. Here’s a start

There's a raging debate in South Africa about the role of its central bank. This is inevitable given that so much is changing in the world of central banking and in economic life.
Delegates at the launch of the South African Federation of Trade Unions. The Star/Nokuthula Mbatha

South Africa has a new trade union federation. Can it break the mould?

South Africa's newest trade union federation, Saftu, comes at a time of declining political influence by unions, compared to during the struggle against apartheid. They are also seen as elitist.
Gold miners appear after being trapped underground at a mine in Carltonville, west of Johannesburg. Managing their safety has been a major issue as South Africa has among the deepest and most dangerous mines. Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko

Lessons learnt from taking sides as a sociologist in unjust times

When sociologists, driven by their value commitments, go beyond the relative comfort of the classroom and engage with organisations outside the university, they dirty their hands.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has sought an early appearance at the royal commission. AAP/Mick Tsikas

Shorten seeks to fast-track union royal commission appearance

In an effort to deal with the political fallout of his union past, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has asked the royal commission into union corruption to bring forward his appearance to July.

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