The Council of Unions of South Africa (CUSA) was a national trade union federation in South Africa.
History The federation was founded on 14 September 1980 by the former affiliates of the Black Consultative Committee which did not wish to join the Federation of South African Trade Unions, as they felt it was dominated by white activists. The new federation was more centralised than the former committee, and it was led by general secretary Phiroshaw Camay. The federation strongly opposed the apartheid system, and affiliated to both the National Forum Committee and the United Democratic Front.
The council had seven affiliates, and saw initial growth, with 49,014 members by the end of 1981. In 1982, it sought to organise mine workers, and so established the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). All the CUSA affiliates grew, with the NUM's growth being particularly rapid. In contrast to many of its rivals, CUSA did not lay out any specific approach for affiliates to use in negotiating on pay and conditions; for example, some chose to join industrial councils, while others boycotted them. Most chose to register with the Government of South Africa, but some chose not to do so.
The NUM left in 1985, to join the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). In response, CUSA opened negotiations with the Azanian Confederation of Trade Unions (AZACTU). By 1986, CUSA had 12 affiliates with a total of 147,000 members. On 5 October, it merged with the AZACTU, to form the National Council of Trade Unions (NCTU).
Affiliates Union Abbreviation Founded Left Reason not affiliated Membership (1981) Membership (1986) Brushes and Cleaners Workers' Union BCWU 1982 1986 Transferred to NCTU N/A 1,000 Building, Construction and Allied Workers' Union BCAWU 1975 1986 Transferred to NCTU 9,200 27,264 Food, Beverage and Allied Workers' Union FBAWU 1979 1986 Transferred to NCTU 6,000 16,124 Hotel, Liquor and Catering Employees' Union HLCEU 1978 1984 Transferred to ACTU N/A N/A National Union of Mineworkers NUM 1982 1985 Transferred to COSATU N/A N/A National Union of Wine and Spirits Workers NUWSW 1978 1986 Transferred to NCTU N/A 5,000 South African Black Municipality and Allied Workers' Union 1985 Disaffiliated N/A N/A South African Chemical Workers' Union SACWU 1973 1986 Transferred to NCTU 10,500 30,000 South African Laundry, Dry Cleaning and Dye Workers' Union SALDCDWU 1972 1986 Transferred to NCTU 2,397 4,771 Steel, Engineering and Allied Workers' Union SEAWU 1979 1986 Transferred to NCTU 10,734 28,927 Textile Workers' Union of the Transvaal TWU 1973 1986 Transferred to NCTU N/A 1,000 Transport and Allied Workers' Union TAWU 1972 1986 Transferred to NCTU 8,183 23,327 United African Motor and Allied Workers' Union UAMAWU 1980 1986 Transferred to NCTU 2,000 10,873 Vukani Black Guards and Allied Workers' Union VBGAWU 1981 1986 Transferred to NCTU N/A 514
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