Glenda Daniels
A FIGHTING UNION: AN ORAL HISTORY OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN RAILWAY AND HARBOURS WORKERS’ UNION by Margaret Kiloh and Archie Sibeko, (Ravan Press)
This book is the only historical record of the South African Railway and Harbour Workers’ Union’s (Sarhwu) battles since it was formed in 1936. It provides a factual account, detailing an oral history of experiences by workers on the railways and dockyards, cleaners, administrators and activists.
It is written in an accessible and anecdotal style, with the right amount of depth, yet at the same time it avoids getting bogged down with theoretical and intellectual analysis.
It’s a successful record also from the point of not isolating the experiences and activism of the trade union movement from the repressive nature of the apartheid regime at the time.
A fascinating read, for not just those who are interested in the trade union movement, and it is a great example to other trade unions of the value of a recorded history, lest time passes taking the people who were crucial to that period with it.
This is especially necessary as during the apartheid years many records and documents were destroyed.
Both authors bring particular and varied experiences to the book, which is part of its success.
Co-author Kiloh is a senior lecturer in applied social sciences at the Open University in England; during the apartheid years she was an active member of the Anti- Apartheid Movement and the British Defence and Aid Fund.
Sibeko is an honorary life president of Sarhwu, born in Alice in the Eastern Cape, who became a trade unionist, active African National Congress member, and a founder member of Umkonto weSizwe.
TWENTY YEARS IN THE LABOUR MOVEMENT: THE URBAN TRAINING PROJECT AND CHANGE IN SOUTH AFRICA (1971-1991), by Donovan Lowry (Wadmore Publishing)
The Urban Training Project emerged when black consciousness was laying the foundation for new resistance.
This book helps ensure that the inspiration that was the impetus for many activists that joined the mainstream congress movement for democratic change, is given the acknowledgment it deserves.
“When we were building up the Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers’ Union from 1976 to 1986, the UTP [Urban Training Project] was always there to help with seminersE…
“From 1980 to 1985 it provided training for 25 000 shop stewards,” says veteran trade unionist Emma Mashinini, in praise of this historical account of the labour movement.
She also points out that generally with labour books, much is left out such as the part played by religious leaders such as former bishop Desmond Tutu, Rev Dale White, Bishop Manas Buthelezi and Rev Smangaliso Mkhatshwa. However, in this book the contribution of religious leaders is given substantive space.
It might not be a racy read, but it’s an important historical record.