Impact of Deregulation and Privatization
October 2007 - September 2012
The primary goal of this project is to increase the capacity of the Communication Workers Union of South Africa (CWU) and to understand and influence public policy with regard to the impact of deregulation and privatization on workers. On a second tier, the project also sought to increase the participation of women in the union.
The project kicked off and continued with a series of workshops, conferences and educational seminars organized by the CWU. These have been focusing on defining the problems; increasing the understanding on the issue of regulation; developing collective bargaining strategies; increasing the ability of the union to oppose contracting out; developing recruiting tools; and training the trainers.
As a result the CWU now understand the importance of recruiting members and actively promoting decent jobs and fair contracts. The communications sector is dominated by women and successful recruitment and organizing means increased participation in the activities and leadership of the union, we are now seeing a better level of participation by women.
The CLC works in partnership with the Communication Workers Union of South Africa (CWU), the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).
Capacity Building Project for Trade Unions and Social Movements
October 2007 - September 2012
This project aims to challenge the South African government's notions on economic growth and development and seeks to develop alternative economic strategies.
The partner group on this project, the International Labour Research and Information Group (ILRIG), provided research, education and publications to build the capacity of the labour movement and communities, to respond to the challenges posed by the globalisation process.
During 2010 ILRIG carried out research activities that ensured solid critical content of publications and educational programmes on trade and investment. The regular public forums that were held expanded the knowledge base about the current economic crisis, SA’s role in Africa, the possibilities of alternatives to neo-liberal globalisation and more developmental forms of public legislation.
The Canadian Labour Congress works with the International Labour Research and Information Group (ILRIG) and the United Steelworkers / Steelworkers Humanity Fund (USW).
Women's Leadership Development
October 2008 - December 2010
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) represents workers in the transport, cleaning and security sectors. As with many trade unions, SATAWU is male dominated. Among their priorities over the next few years is to increase the number of women in the union and in the union leadership.
Understanding how change can be made in the union, in communities and in the broader global society, in combination with gaining an understanding of existing power structures, are crucial to promoting gender equality. This program aims to establish opportunities for women members of SATAWU to develop skills, support and help other women, and identify and remove barriers for women.
During this project, we witnessed an increased number of women elected in new leadership positions and an increased political confidence to accept nominations and occupy positions.
The Canadian Labour Congress works in tandem with the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU), International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and the Canadian Auto Workers Union -Social Justice Fund (CAW-SJF)
Empowering Informal Economy Workers
October 2007 - September 2012
The main purpose of the project is to increase the capacity of labour unions in Southern Africa to influence social, political, employment and labour policies in Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries.
As part of this project, StreetNet has worked closely with the Southern African Trade Union Co-ordination Council (SATUCC), an organisation formed by trade unions in the region to influence Southern Africa governments. StreetNet and SATUCC have organized a joint regional forum as an initial activity to discuss and document existing models of organizing workers in Africa. This forum seeks to identify and learn from cases where unions and associations representing workers have collaborated.
We have seen Increased participation of the labour movement in defending workers from the informal economy sector, more women in leadership positions and Improved collaboration between trade unions and associations representing workers in policy and advocacy work.
Also, a tripartite alliance was created between civil society, churches and unions in support of a new regional structure of cross-border traders.
The Canadian Labour Congress works in tandem with StreetNet and SATUCC on this project.
Research on Women in Trade Unions
October 2007 – September 2012
This project was designed to assess the state of gender equality and levels of participation of women in the labour movement and to identify ways of increasing women's participation and integration in union work. With research in nine countries (Botswana, Ghana, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Zambia) this project illustrated the lack of substantial improvement in gender equality, despite decades of work supporting the integration of women into the African labour movement.
The reserach includes surveys, analytical research, workshops, meetings and the production of education and research materials on the role of unions in respect to policy and advocacy on gender issues.
Recommendations of the report will be integrated in the next phases of development in participating countries.
The Canadian Labour Congress worked with the Africa Labour Researchers’ Network (ALRN) on this research.
South Africa