%0 Journal Article
%T Work reorganisation and technological change: limits of trade union strategy and action at ArcelorMittal, Vanderbijlpark
%A Mondli Hlatshwayo
%A Sakhela Buhlungu
%J -
%D 2017
%X The black South African trade unions were known globally for challenging apartheid in the workplace and low wages. In fact, they played a significant role in the broad liberation movement which ushered in democracy in 1994. However, little is known about the unions¡¯ ability to respond to production issues such as technological changes at the ¡®point of production¡¯. Using a case study of the Vanderbijlpark Plant currently owned by the global steel corporation ArcelorMittal International, this article shows that the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (NUMSA) - the biggest trade union in South Africa - adopted a bargaining strategy which consistently ignored production issues at the plant while focusing on wages and working conditions. This article suggests that this unidimensional strategy meant that building the union¡¯s capacity was neglected, reducing its ability to respond proactively to technological innovation and work reorganisation. While it does not present union capacity as a panacea, the article presents international examples that indicate that unions with more developed research and education capabilities were able to save some jobs by engaging union members and proposing alternatives.
%K education
%K research
%K technology
%K union capacity
%K union strategy
%U https://www.ajol.info/index.php/asr/article/view/163716