Tribute to the working class and trade unions

The nation celebrated Workers’ Day on Saturday, 1 May – a date of historical significance all over the world.

It serves to remind us not only of the indispensable contribution the labour force supplies, but of the significant role organised labour unions continue to play.

While many might perceive labour unions as a ‘negative’ in terms of legal strike and protest action that impact on productivity and cause inconveniences such as having to make travel detours, this is the tip of the iceberg.

One must go back to the origins of what was originally called Labour Day, when Australian stonemasons in

1856 demonstrated publicly, demanding an eight-hour working day.

This was just one of many justifiable complaints from an exploited working class that in the past was over-worked, under-paid and spent their long days in unhealthy and dangerous working conditions.

A prime example would be mine workers – many of them children – who risked their lives on a daily basis in order to put food on the table.

The formation of unions to protect and fight for these workers, who were little more than expendable cannon fodder in the eyes of the owners whom they enriched, was a mighty step in their liberation.

This would begin a process of corrective actions that are incorporated in many of today’s corporate health and safety standards.

Unions fought – and still are fighting - issues ranging from salary discrepancies, equality pay for equal work, gender issues, discrimination, unfair dismissal and more.

Today there are unions in every spectrum of the employment economy – from mining to teaching, nursing, transport and every other profession or entity that relies on employees.

They ensure that workers’ rights are enshrined in the constitution and are protected by the courts.

It must also be remembered that trade unions played a massive part in the overthrow of the apartheid regime.

Workers’ Day has always been linked to a political context and in some countries such as China and North Korea, it is celebrated with a great show of military force.

Indeed, it would be a fool who undermines the power and influence of the trade unions, just as it would be remiss to recognise their past and present role in defending the vulnerable worker.