This booklet is a history of the Federation of South African Trade Unions (FOSATU) in South Africa.
FOSATU was formed in 1979. It's roots were in the 1973 strike wave by black workers in Durban and Pinetown (part of the "Durban Moment"). FOSATU's constitution enshrined the principles of workers' control of their trade unions, non-racialism, worker independence from party politics, international worker solidarity and trade union unity.
On the weekend of 14 and 15 April 1979, the Federation of South African Trade Unions (FOSATU) was formed. It was an exhilarating event, full of hope and anticipation, and I well remember the exultant and inspiring singing of liberation songs which surged through the assembled shop steward representatives on those two remarkable days.
FOSATU soon began living up to the expectations that surrounded its birth. It became the first genuinely national non-racial federation of trade unions to have been formed in South Africa. Those that preceded it generally were coalitions of regional groups which retained distinct regional identities. FOSATU, by contrast, succeeded in synthesising and distilling the various regional working class traditions into a common consciousness and practice. This was a first. FOSATU accomplished that goal partly by fostering a national leadership of organic intellectuals.
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