Mauritius 1938: the origins of a milestone in colonial trade union legislation
2013; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 54; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/0023656x.2013.804268
ISSN1469-9702
AutoresRichard Croucher, John McIlroy,
Tópico(s)African history and culture studies
ResumoAbstract This article analyses the sociopolitical interactions that shaped an early colonial union statute that constituted a milestone because of its early passage, draconian nature and wider influence in the British Empire. We analyse the interactions between the Governor on the one hand and local and international actors on the other, to create the first trade union law in Mauritius. Colonial Office officials pressured the Governor to overcome local resistance to legislation, but this opposition and his attitudes shaped the law's content. Acknowledgements The authors gratefully acknowledge the Mauritius Tertiary Education Commission's (MTEC) support and thank Yangna Li for her painstaking assistance in managing the archival documentation and preparing the manuscript. Notes 1. This article was completed during a period in 2011–2012 when Richard Croucher was the MTEC Research Fellow. 2. Memo by Major Orde Browne, 22 April 1942. CO 167/920/3. 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