Kenny, Bridget. 2020. “The South African labour movement: A fragmented and shifting terrain.” Tempo Social, revista de sociologia da USP 32(1): 119-136.
*University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
This paper reviews the state of the South African labour movement. It discusses trade unions within the context of national political dynamics, including the Tripartite Alliance and neoliberalism, as well as growing precarianization of work within South Africa. It examines splits within the major federation and explores debates around union renewal and new worker organizations. It argues that the political terrain is fragmented and shifting, but workers’ collective labour politics abides.
Key words: Labour movement; South Africa; COSATU; New forms of organization
