Lucy Mvubelo's role in the South African Trade Unions, 1960-1974 (2)
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Date
2012
Authors
Strydom, Irene
Coetzer, Pieter
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of the Humanities, University of the Free State
Abstract
Lucy Mvubelo’s career as one of the foremost black feminist trade union leaders stretched from 1942
to 1987. In a first article on her role in the trade unions the authors stressed the importance of her
leadership qualities and her remarkable potential in establishing the SA Congress of Trade Unions
(SACTU) and Federation of Free African Trade Unions (FOFATUSA). During these later years of
her career she remained instrumental in the development of the South African trade unions. She still
worked in close cooperation with Anna Scheepers and Johanna Cornelius. Labour legislation of the
apartheid government, however, hampered their work. Mvubelo nevertheless fought for the dignity of all
workers. Till 1987 Mvubelo, Scheepers and Cornelius ensured that legislation was changed to give all
workers the opportunity for better housing, education and equal pay for equal work. Bread-and-butter
issues were of utmost importance in Mvubelo’s struggle for a better dispensation for all workers. When
she retired in 1987 she was regarded as instrumental in bringing about phenomenal changes in the
black trade union movement. In this second article the authors focus on her role in the SA trade unions
between 1960 and 1974.
Description
Keywords
SACTU, FOFATUSA, SA trade unions, Lucy Mvubelo, Anna Scheepers, Johanna Cornelius, Labour relations, Equal union rights
Citation
Strydom, I., & Coetzer, P. (2012). Lucy Mvubelo's role in the South African Trade Unions, 1960-1974 (2). Journal for Contemporary History, 37(1), 20-44.