Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

NUMSA and Solidarity’s Responses to Technological Changes at the ArcelorMittal Vanderbijlpark Plant: Unions Caught on the Back Foot

2014; McMaster University Library Press; Volume: 5; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.15173/glj.v5i3.2277

1918-6711

Mondli Hlatshwayo,

Labor Movements and Unions

Under the impact of globalisation and intensified international competition there has been an increased use of technology in the production processes in South African enterprises. No specific study of the impacts of technological changes on work and workers, and how trade unions have responded to technological changes at the workplace has been undertaken in post-apartheid South Africa. This article seeks to fill this void by examining trade union responses to technological changes at the ArcelorMittal Vanderbijlpark Plant. The responses of National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA; a predominantly black union) and Solidarity (a predominantly white union) to technological changes were generally reactive or on the back foot, with a general focus on wage bargaining by both trade unions.