TheSouth African Trades Union Congress (TUC) was anational trade union federation inSouth Africa.
The council was established in 1924, as theSouth African Association of Employees' Organisations. It was founded at a special congress, held after the collapse of theSouth African Industrial Federation, which was called by theMinister of Labour,Frederic Creswell. All the affiliated unions were registered under theIndustrial Conciliation Act 1924 and represented white workers. The federation was expected to be very moderate, but unexpectedly elected the leading communistBill Andrews as its general secretary.[1][2][3] As president, it electedJimmy Briggs, aLabour Party Senator.[4]
The unexpected radicalism of the federation led some long-established unions not to affiliate, while theMine Workers' Union andSouth African Typographical Union soon resigned their membership. They were replaced by smallindustrial unions, many open to all workers. The federation also began working closely with theSouth African Federation of Non-European Trade Unions.[1] In 1930, the federation merged with theCape Federation of Labour Unions, forming theSouth African Trades and Labour Council.[2]
The federation's founding affiliates were:[1]
| Union | Abbreviation | Founded | Membership (1926)[4] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affiliated Plasterers' Trade Union of South Africa | 1896 | 193 | |
| Amalgamated Building Trade Union of South Africa | ABTU | 510 | |
| Amalgamated Engineering Union | AEU | 1893 | 2,800 |
| Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers | ASW | 1881 | 2,600 |
| Baking Employees' Association | 330 | ||
| Building Workers' Industrial Union | BWIU | 1916 | 2,000 |
| Johannesburg Tramwaymen's Union | 700 | ||
| Mineral Water Employees' Union | |||
| Mine Workers' Union | MWU | 1902 | 2,500 |
| Natal Mine Workers' Union | 1916 | 300 | |
| National Vehicle Builders' Union | 250 | ||
| South African Association of Municipal Employees | SAAME | 1919 | 2,700 |
| South African Boilermakers' Society | SABS | 1916 | 800 |
| South African Co-ordinated Employees' Association | |||
| South African Engine Drivers' and Firemen's Association | SAED&FA | 1894 | 1,230 |
| South African Reduction Workers' Association | SARWA | 920 | |
| South African Shop Assistants', Warehousemen's, Clerks' and Hairdressers' Association | 870 | ||
| South African Society of Bank Officials | SASBO | 1916 | 3,800 |
| South African Typographical Union | AATU | 1898 | 3,700 |
| Witwatersrand Tailors' Association | 1909 | 1,000 | |
| Women Workers' General Union | 1925 | N/A |
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