FAWU Commemorates 80th Anniversary

 

The Food and Allied Workers Union marks its 80^th year of existence since its establishment in 1941.

The union remains the largest organised trade union across the entire value chain in the agricultural sector food and beverage sector. In its 80^th year, FAWU remains at the forefront of organising and servicing workers in the food and related sectors.

The existence of FAWU is drawn from the historical background of a revolutionary cadre and a Communist from Russia, Rachel Ester Alexandrowich Simons, popular known as “Ma Ray” or Ray Alexander who is credited to have been the founder having been the resource behind the formation of FAWU. She worked with Lizzie Abrahams, Oscar Mpetha and many others soon after her arrival in the Cape when organising workers in the canning factories in the Boland area as well as the fishing workers in the West Coast. This was based on the exploitation by employers against workers in various forms, such as women being paid less than their male counterparts, worse working conditions, no benefits. With its successes, the union quickly built a name among workers and the success of the Fatti’s and Moni’s strike further enhanced its reputation as a militant union fighting for workers’ rights.

At the time of its launch on the 06^th February 1941, it was called Food & Canning Workers Union, launched as a socialist oriented Union to organise and represent the interest of workers and further drive the struggle through its campaign to address all ills of socio-political and economic matters that are directly or indirectly affecting workers and communities in pursuit for socialism that is accommodative to the majority of the people of South Africa. 

FAWU took its acronym after a merger of Sweet Food & Allied workers Union and Food & Canning workers Union and later RAWU being Retail & Allied Workers Union and many other Unions that handed over members to make one Union merged to form FAWU in pursuit of one industry, one Union. 

During its establishment, this was the time colonialism was at its best brutality by the racist government against black workers in its process toward reconstituting itself to apartheid machinery in 1948 and as a system that was even more exploitative towards workers who suffered various forms of discrimination including torture, imprisonment through the collaboration with employers against Shop stewards and leaders of the Union which were daily activities to crush the Unions in the country. Notwithstanding that this was a time when any moment could be the last for the life of a Shop steward and any leader of the Union, FAWU continued to raise the flag of the workers in the country.

FAWU stood the test of time despite many challenges as it is one of the Unions that witnessed having suffered from all forms of oppression in the country including laws that were designed to oppress the working class in general, such as, the Group Areas Act, the suppression of the Communism Act which saw Ray Alexander to jail with many leaders such as Josie Mpama, Dora Tamana, JB Marks, Albert Luthuli, Brian Bunting. Other legislations were the Population Registration Act, the unlawful organisation bill and many other discriminative laws.   

FAWU had a direct contact with SACTU (South African Congress of Trade Union) underground in Lusaka for political programs of advancing ANC publications as a political consciousness of workers across the country. This remained a strong connection between workers in the country and liberation fighters abroad.

FAWU has been vibrant even in the continent and at the international level in the context of international solidarity being an affiliate of the International Union of Food to advance the struggle of uniting workers across the globe.

Despite the above, FAWU continued to be part of many struggles of the working class such as the 1955 formation of the Freedom charter, the 1956 women march among others.

FAWU believed that women are not a separated section of community members, particularly in the community struggles and through again its leader Ray Alexender together with Hilda Bernstein formed the women movement called Federation of South African Women which advocated for the women equality in workplaces and in the society including children. This did not only argue for the voice and rights of women on equity perspective but also became a symbol of non-racialism as the members were coming from all race groups.

FAWU also played a pivotal role joining the mass democratic movement in later years with its Cadres as revolutionaries across formations including among others UDF, SASCO etc.

FAWU played an important role in the formation of COSATU to unite workers into one Federation and Chris Dlamini who was the President of FAWU became its founding Vice President and Jay Naidoo becoming its founding General Secretary. To date, FAWU remain principled to have together with other affiliates formed SAFTU (South African Federation of Trade Unions) as a Federation that is militant, campaigning, democratic and without any political relationship yet without being apolitical. 

FAWU will always be honoured to have worked with and took a baton from earlier generation of many revolutionary cadres in our labour movement such as Oscar Mpetha, Lizzie Abrahams, Chris Dlamini, Elizabeth Mafikeng, Frances Baard, Jay Naidoo, Lizzie Pike, David Maseko and many others in driving the liberation struggle

As a trade Union that is also responsible to respond to socio-economic challenges facing the working class, FAWU has in the current generation embarked on campaigns such as illicit trading, chicken dumping and all forms of unfair international trade, sugar tax etc. We shall continue to represent the risk members are faced with in workplaces during COVID-19 as they make profits for bosses through their labour without any compensation that matches their effort.

 

We salute all members of FAWU who remain as members in the struggle of workers in all our sectors against exploitation of bosses whose interest remain profit maximisation at the expense of members conforming to a capitalist greed system. 

FAWU acknowledges the challenges it has internally and externally. The unity and cohesion remains a test for the Union. Members are assured that the organisation will improve to be in its best efficiency for members to receive the best service they deserve including to ensure that there is respect of their constitution, policies and resolutions of FAWU. The affairs of the Union shall also improve to be in line with the exact mandate of the structures of the Union. The union officials will improve in defending the workers demands at all cost.

FAWU undertakes to take the struggle forward especially the vulnerable such as farm workers, workers in the restaurants and fast-food outlets, retail and hospitality and other sectors. The struggle will also continue against many challenges ranging from the crushing of Unions by the current government, such as new laws that makes it impossible for workers to go on strike, the minimum wage which entrenches more poverty, privatisation, refusing review neo-liberal policies to address poverty, unemployment and inequalities.

A day before the FAWU anniversary is the date FAWU lost one of the most selfless organiser in Cde Dr Neil Agget, who despite all forms of intimidation by the racist government,  remained determined to help the society and workers whose poor health condition through appalling working conditions in workplaces are given medical attention especially in black communities. A Cadre who never surrendered despite all forms of torture such as electric shock, assault but continued until his last moment on the 05^th February 1982. FAWU believes that Cde Dr Neil did not commit suicide but was assassinated. In this anniversary, we vow to continue with the campaign of ensuring that justice is served as the inquest is in progress in the South Gauteng High Court in that all those who contributed to his death are severely punished. 

FAWU will continue to drive the struggle of workers and to work with the working class in general in order to advocate for the liberation of the workers and the poor. 

 

Enquiries:Mayoyo Mngomezulu, FAWU General Secretary on 082 440 4039, mngomezulu.mayoyo@fawu.org.za or Vuka Chonco, FAWU Deputy General Secretary on 082 499 5854, vuka.chonco@fawu.org.za

FAWU National Office Bearers: President- Atwell Nazo, 1st Deputy President -Linda Ngqokoma, 2nd Deputy President-Patrick Maseko, Treasurer-Mark Oliver, General Secretary- Mayoyo Mngomezulu, Deputy General Secretary -Vuka Chonco