The world is still reeling after the death of Nelson
Mandela at age 95.
Mandela at age 95.
Mandela was many things: a revolutionary, a famed
statesman, a voice for peace, the list goes on. But there’s something else
about him that isn’t receiving as much attention as it probably should: Mandela
was a staunch supporter of organized labour.
statesman, a voice for peace, the list goes on. But there’s something else
about him that isn’t receiving as much attention as it probably should: Mandela
was a staunch supporter of organized labour.
And the respect was mutual. Unions around the world
demonstrated strong support for Mandela since the early days of his struggle
against Apartheid in South Africa. Desperate to give voice to the suffering
caused by Apartheid, women and men of South Africa went to their unions to give
voice to their concerns. Unions around the world soon joined the cause of the
workers in South Africa and used their collective voices to pressure government
and business leaders of South Africa to end Apartheid.
demonstrated strong support for Mandela since the early days of his struggle
against Apartheid in South Africa. Desperate to give voice to the suffering
caused by Apartheid, women and men of South Africa went to their unions to give
voice to their concerns. Unions around the world soon joined the cause of the
workers in South Africa and used their collective voices to pressure government
and business leaders of South Africa to end Apartheid.
Canadian unions featured prominently among the
global unions offering assistance to the South African movement to end
Apartheid. James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and
General Employees (NUPGE) proudly recognizes the role unions played:
global unions offering assistance to the South African movement to end
Apartheid. James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and
General Employees (NUPGE) proudly recognizes the role unions played:
I’m honoured to say
that Canadian unionists were at the forefront of this fight, holding rallies
and protests and persistently urging our politicians to act on our convictions[1].
that Canadian unionists were at the forefront of this fight, holding rallies
and protests and persistently urging our politicians to act on our convictions[1].
Clancy goes on to highlight some of the more
particular involvement of Canadian unions in supporting the South African Anti-Apartheid
movement:
particular involvement of Canadian unions in supporting the South African Anti-Apartheid
movement:
Liquor-store workers in
Ontario made South African apartheid an issue with their commitment to
boycotting South African wine. We took the boycott campaign to large
institutions such as hospitals and correctional facilities.
Ontario made South African apartheid an issue with their commitment to
boycotting South African wine. We took the boycott campaign to large
institutions such as hospitals and correctional facilities.
The solidarity and support of unions for the people
of South Africa did not escape Nelson Mandela’s appreciation. After being
elected president of South Africa, Mandela declared that he desired a type of
democracy founded on solidarity and respect for workers, saying:
of South Africa did not escape Nelson Mandela’s appreciation. After being
elected president of South Africa, Mandela declared that he desired a type of
democracy founded on solidarity and respect for workers, saying:
The kind of democracy
that we all seek to build demands that we deepen and broaden the rights of all
citizens. This includes a culture of workers’ rights.
that we all seek to build demands that we deepen and broaden the rights of all
citizens. This includes a culture of workers’ rights.
Mandela’s early influences included being impacted
by the African Mine Workers Union (AMWU) strike in 1946. The organizing skills
he observed via the AMWU helped him to develop the skills necessary to resist
apartheid. Mandela showed a lifelong respect for miners and all workers,
stating that it was the sweat and blood of South African workers under
apartheid that created the privilege and the wealth of white South Africa[2]. It
was this fundamental unfairness that helped fuel Mandela’s drive to end
Apartheid.
by the African Mine Workers Union (AMWU) strike in 1946. The organizing skills
he observed via the AMWU helped him to develop the skills necessary to resist
apartheid. Mandela showed a lifelong respect for miners and all workers,
stating that it was the sweat and blood of South African workers under
apartheid that created the privilege and the wealth of white South Africa[2]. It
was this fundamental unfairness that helped fuel Mandela’s drive to end
Apartheid.
And even after Apartheid was ended, Mandela remained
committed to unions and the plight of workers. Into his final years, he was the
honourary president of South Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers.
committed to unions and the plight of workers. Into his final years, he was the
honourary president of South Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers.
Union support for Mandela and anti-apartheid forces
in South Africa was global, and so too was Mandela’s support for unions.
Shortly after being released from prison Mandela traveled to North America.
While in the U.S. he visited Detroit so he could give his thanks to the United
Auto Workers, Local 600, which had aggressively opposed apartheid from early on
in the movement[3].
in South Africa was global, and so too was Mandela’s support for unions.
Shortly after being released from prison Mandela traveled to North America.
While in the U.S. he visited Detroit so he could give his thanks to the United
Auto Workers, Local 600, which had aggressively opposed apartheid from early on
in the movement[3].
And now that he’s gone, organized labour has lost a
great champion of workers’ rights. It’s somehow fitting that the world joins in
solidarity to grieve the loss of a man who believed in the importance of
solidarity and union bargaining power, once declaring that he was, “fully
committed to the protection of the integrity of the collective bargaining
system.” Mandela didn’t forget the workers, and the workers won’t forget him.
great champion of workers’ rights. It’s somehow fitting that the world joins in
solidarity to grieve the loss of a man who believed in the importance of
solidarity and union bargaining power, once declaring that he was, “fully
committed to the protection of the integrity of the collective bargaining
system.” Mandela didn’t forget the workers, and the workers won’t forget him.