The+Workers+Survey,+COSATU+Press+Release+13h00+060830

COSATU Press Release 13h00 30 August 2006
=The Workers’ Survey for COSATU=

COSATU requested NALEDI and CASE to conduct a survey on workers’ attitudes toward the unions and major policy issues. The survey aimed


 * To provide information on the views of workers who are not members,
 * To assist in the unions’ internal democratic processes, and
 * To support the organisational review and recruitment efforts.

Most of the questions concerned workers’ perceptions of the unions. In addition, some questions asked about workers’ political opinions.

The survey focused on the core constituency of the labour movement – that is, workers who are not self-employed or in micro enterprise. It covered almost 3000 workers, drawn at random from communities with an average income under R10 000 a month per household. For logistical reasons, surveys were conducted only in large urban areas. About 40% of the workers interviewed were union members, which is about the same as union density outside of farm and domestic work.

Comparison with Statistics South Africa’s Labour Force Survey (which covers 30 000 households) suggests that the sample was strongly representative of the formal working class.

The questionnaire was developed by NALEDI, CASE and COSATU. The survey was conducted by CASE in November and December 2005. Liv Tørres and Neva Makgetla analysed the results for NALEDI and COSATU.

Key findings of the survey include:


 * COSATU affiliates represent two thirds of union members in every major industry except business services, where their share is half.
 * One African worker in seven said they faced racial abuse in the workplace. A quarter said their employer discriminates in terms of hiring and promotions.
 * Union members tended to be more committed to collective action and bargaining than non-members, more engaged in other social and political organisations, and generally more aware of political developments.
 * The vast majority of black non-members would like to join a union if one were recognised in their workplace. In contrast, most white non-members said they did not like or need a union. Young workers were more likely to support unions in principle. Most worked in poorly organised sectors like retail, however, so they were less likely to be members. Just one in five non-members had encountered a union recruitment drive, pointing to the need to step up the recruitment campaign.
 * Most non-members did not know how to contact the union, although black workers were better informed than white ones.
 * Few non-members had asked a union for help, and most of those got little or no assistance. In contrast, three quarters of COSATU members said their union had helped them when asked.
 * The majority of COSATU members had participated in a union meeting or shop steward election in the past year, 40% had been in a union-related training course, and most felt they could influence their shop stewards. Women members, however, were less likely to have participated in union activities and felt less able to affect their shop stewards.
 * Half of COSATU members, a third of other union members and a tenth of non-members had experienced a strike in the past five years. Virtually all COSATU members said they had participated in the strike. The vast majority of strikes took place over wage negotiations, with job security accounting for about 10%.
 * Just over half of all workers, and 60% of African workers, thought government favoured employers over workers. A similar share of workers thought government policies would not end poverty. The vast majority saw employment creation as the most important way to achieve that goal, with social grants only a distant second choice.
 * Between 60% and 80% of COSATU members were aware of the federation’s main campaigns, and the vast majority supported them. Awareness of the campaigns was lower amongst other workers. Still, of other workers who knew about the campaigns, most supported them.
 * Three quarters of COSATU members said that workers need general strikes to put pressure on government.
 * Some 60% of COSATU members said they would vote for the ANC. No other party came close to that figure, but 13% of COSATU members refused to answer and 12% said they would not vote at all.
 * Around 45% of COSATU members said the federation should stay in the Tripartite Alliance, but most also said the parties to the alliance should work harder to overcome disagreements. In contrast, 10% said COSATU should only work with the ANC on specific issues, 3% that it should form an alliance with the SACP alone, and 14% that it should leave the Tripartite Alliance altogether. The remainder did not know or did not answer the question.

Just over 20% of COSATU members said the SACP should run for elections on its own. Over half said it did not and a quarter did not know. Patrick Craven (National Spokesperson)** P.O.Box 1019** Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24**
 * Congress of South African Trade Unions**
 * 1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets**
 * Braamfontein, 2017**
 * Johannesburg, 2000**
 * SOUTH AFRICA**
 * Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940/ 086 603 9667**
 * Cell: 0828217456**
 * E-Mail: patrick@cosatu.org.za**

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