Azanian Confederation of Trade Unions

1984–1986 trade union in South Africa

The Azanian Confederation of Trade Unions (AZACTU) was a national trade union federation in South Africa.

The federation was established in 1984, with eight affiliates, representing a total of 75,000 black workers. These formerly independent affiliates had been active in numerous strikes in 1983 and 1984. The federation was independent of the Azanian People's Organisation, although that party had helped set up several of the affiliates.[1][2]

In 1985, the federation began discussing a merger with the Council of Unions of South Africa. Although initial discussions fell through, on 5 October 1986 a merger was completed, forming the National Council of Trade Unions.[1]

## Affiliates

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Union[1] | Abbreviation | Founded | Left | Reason left | Membership (1986)[2][3]

|
|
|
|
|

African Allied Workers' Union | AAWU | 1982 |  |  | 2,200
Amalgamated Black Workers' Union | ABWU |  |  |  | N/A
Black Allied Mining and Construction Workers' Union | BAMACWU |  | 1986 | Transferred to NACTU | 32,000
Black Domestic Workers' Union | BDWU | 1985 | 1986 | Transferred to NACTU | 14,000
Black Electronic and Electrical Workers' Union | BEEWU |  | 1986 | Transferred to NACTU | 2,001
Black General Workers' Union | BLAGWU | 1983 | 1986 | Dissolved | 5,030
Engineering and Allied Workers' Union | EAWUSA | 1963 | 1986 | Transferred to NACTU | 3,000
Hotel, Liquor, Catering and Allied Workers' Union | HOTELICA | 1981 | 1986 | Transferred to NACTU | 10,000
Insurance and Assurance Workers' Union of South Africa | IAWUSA |  | 1986 | Transferred to NACTU | 30,000
National Union of Workers of South Africa | NUWSA |  |  |  | 1,500

## References

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1. ^ a b c Kunnie, Julian (2018). Is Apartheid Really Dead? Pan Africanist Working Class Cultural Critical Perspectives. Routledge. ISBN 978-0429979231.
2. ^ a b "Directory: South Africa's Independent Unions" (PDF). South African History Online. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
3. ^ Kraak, Gerald (1993). Breaking the Chains. London: Pluto Press. ISBN 0745307051.