In 1936, the Natal Industrial Council was founded, on which the GWIU played a leading role, and it achieved an agreement on pay and conditions, which was extended to black workers in 1937. The union also established a fund for sick workers the following year, and an unemployment fund in the 1940s. Although the union did not accept black workers as members, in 1948 it set up a parallel union for them, and employed Amos Dube as its organiser.[1][2]
In 1964, James Bolton died, and the leadership of the union was taken over by his wife, Harriet. In 1971, she organised a protest of 31,000 workers over low pay, and also opened new offices for the union, named Bolton Hall. The following year, she founded the General Factory Workers' Benefit Fund. In 1974, she threatened to withdraw the GWIU from the Trade Union Council of South Africa (TUCSA) over the council's reluctance to organise black workers. This lost her the support of the rest of the union's leadership, and she resigned.[1][3][2]
By 1980, the union had 28,004 members.[4] Soon after, it began accepting black workers as members. In 1986, it resigned from TUCSA, arguing that the council was dominated by white workers and GWIU, which by this point had a negligible white membership was not benefitting from its affiliation. The following year, it was invited to become part of the new Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers' Union of South Africa, but it refused to join in sympathy with the Garment Workers' Union of the Western Province (GWU-WP), which was not permitted to join. Instead, on 5 December, it merged with the GWU-WP, to form the Garment and Allied Workers' Union of South Africa.[1]
^ abcd"A brief history of SACTWU". SACTWU. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
^ abcdefghKeal, Hannah (2009). “A life’s work”: Harriet Bolton and Durban’s trade unions, 1944 – 1974(PDF). Durban: University of KwaZulu-Natal. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
^"Harriet Bolton". South African History Online. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
^Miller, Shirley (1982). Trade Unions in South Africa 1970-1980: a directory and statistics. Cape Town: Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit. ISBN0799204692.
October 15, 2023
garment, workers, industrial, union, gwiu, trade, union, representing, clothing, workers, south, africa, union, established, august, 1934, james, bolton, natal, bolton, already, leader, furniture, workers, industrial, union, 1936, natal, industrial, council, f. The Garment Workers Industrial Union GWIU was a trade union representing clothing workers in South Africa The union was established on 2 August 1934 by James Bolton in Natal Bolton was already the leader of the Furniture Workers Industrial Union 1 2 In 1936 the Natal Industrial Council was founded on which the GWIU played a leading role and it achieved an agreement on pay and conditions which was extended to black workers in 1937 The union also established a fund for sick workers the following year and an unemployment fund in the 1940s Although the union did not accept black workers as members in 1948 it set up a parallel union for them and employed Amos Dube as its organiser 1 2 In 1964 James Bolton died and the leadership of the union was taken over by his wife Harriet In 1971 she organised a protest of 31 000 workers over low pay and also opened new offices for the union named Bolton Hall The following year she founded the General Factory Workers Benefit Fund In 1974 she threatened to withdraw the GWIU from the Trade Union Council of South Africa TUCSA over the council s reluctance to organise black workers This lost her the support of the rest of the union s leadership and she resigned 1 3 2 By 1980 the union had 28 004 members 4 Soon after it began accepting black workers as members In 1986 it resigned from TUCSA arguing that the council was dominated by white workers and GWIU which by this point had a negligible white membership was not benefitting from its affiliation The following year it was invited to become part of the new Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union of South Africa but it refused to join in sympathy with the Garment Workers Union of the Western Province GWU WP which was not permitted to join Instead on 5 December it merged with the GWU WP to form the Garment and Allied Workers Union of South Africa 1 General Secretaries Edit1934 James Bolton 2 1964 Harriet Bolton 2 1974 M S Stanley 2 1970s Frank Hansa 2 1987 Harriet Bolton acting 2 References Edit a b c d A brief history of SACTWU SACTWU Retrieved 4 March 2021 a b c d e f g h Keal Hannah 2009 A life s work Harriet Bolton and Durban s trade unions 1944 1974 PDF Durban University of KwaZulu Natal Retrieved 11 March 2021 Harriet Bolton South African History Online Retrieved 11 March 2021 Miller Shirley 1982 Trade Unions in South Africa 1970 1980 a directory and statistics Cape Town Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit ISBN 0799204692 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Garment Workers 27 Industrial Union amp oldid 1116513400, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
