7 - Work reorganisation and technological change: limits of trade union strategy and action at ArcelorMittal, Vanderbijlpark
Corresponding Author(s) : Sakhela Buhlungu
African Sociological Review,
Vol. 21 No. 1 (2017): African Sociological Review
Abstract
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.
Keywords
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)BibTeX
- ArcelorMittal. 2007. Annual Report 2007. Johannesburg: ArcelorMittal South Africa.
- Bacon, N.& Blyton, P. 2004.Trade union responses to workplace restructuring: exploring union orientations and actions. Work, Employment & Society, 18(4):749-773.
- Buhlungu, S. 2001. Democracy and Modernisation in the Making of the South African Trade Union Movement: The dilemma of leadership, 1973 – 2000, unpublished PhD thesis, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
- Broner Metals Solutions, 2007. Broner Wins Third Major Project with ArcelorMittal. [pdf ] Watford: Broner Newsletter. Available at: <http://www.bronermetals.com/documents/newsletter/Broner_newsletter_No9_%20Aug07.pdf> (Accessed 14 August 2017).
- Business Editors and High-Tech Writers, 2001. Largest Steel Producer in Africa Selects Veraon for Real-Time Manufacturing Data. Sunnyvale : Business Wire. [Online] Available at:http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Largest+Steel+Producer+in+Africa+Selects+Verano+for+Real-Time...-a080152831 > (Accessed 14 August 2017).
- Chikutu, J. 1982. A Study of Trade Union Education and Research Work in Kenya: Present trends and future improvement. Available at: https://idl-bnc.idrc.ca/dspace/bitstream/10625/12335/1/96516.pdf (accessed on 12 November 2016).
- COSATU. 2012. Workers’ Survey. Johannesburg: COSATU.
- Croock, S. & Hlatshwayo, M. 2016. Physical Output to Value of Machinery, Employee Numbers. Unpublished Document.
- Curtis, S, Gesler, W, Smith, G, & Washburn, S. 2000. Approaches to sampling and case selection in qualitative research: examples in the geography of health: Social Science & Medicine 50(7): 1001-1014.
- Denzin, N.K. & Lincoln, Y.S. 2008. Collecting and interpreting qualitative materials (Vol. 3). Thousand Oaks :Sage.
- Forrest, K. 2011. Metal That Will Not Bend: National Union Metalworkers of South Africa 1980 -1995.Johannesburg: Wits University Press.
- Gentle, L. 2009. Trade Union Responses to Lean Production. Cape Town: International Labour Research and Information Group.
- Ghosh, P., Nandan, S. & Gupta, A. 2009. The changing roles of trade unions in India: a case study of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC): Unchahar. Asian Academy of Management Journal 14(1):37-57.
- Hlatshwayo, M.S., 2013. A sociological analysis of trade union responses to technological changes at the ArcelorMittal Vanderbijlpark Plant, 1989-2011 (Doctoral). University of Johannesburg
- Mathews, J. 1994. Catching the wave: Workplace reform in Australia (No. 26). Ithica: Cornell University Press.
- Mittal Steel South Africa, 2004. Annual Report 2004. [Online] Available at: <http://www.arcelormittalsa.com/InvestorRelations/2004/annual/downloads/reports. pdf> (accessed on 14 August 2017).
- NUMSA. 2012a. “Numsa Policy Resolutions: Numsa Education Communication and Research, 1987 to end June 2012”, http://www.numsa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Section-3-NUMSA-Education-and-Ciommunication-Edited-Version-5-consolidated-changes.htm (accessed on 14 November 2016).
- NUMSA. 2012b. Secretariat Report: Political, economic, social and international trajectory NUMSA, 9th National Congress, 4-8 June 2012, Durban.
- NUMSA. 2013. Numsa Special National Congress December 2013 Discussion Document 4. Positioning NUMSA as a shield and spear of struggling workers http://www.sahistory.org.za/sites/default/files/29-nov-2013-numsa-shield-and-spear-oct-24-20132.pdf (accessed on 14 November 2016).
- NUMSA. 2016. 2016 NUMSA National Bargaining Conference, 24 April 2016 25 April 2016, Posted in 2016 NUMSA National Bargaining Conference, Press Releases
- http://www.numsa.org.za/article/declaration-2016-numsa-national-bargaining-conference-24-april-2016/ (accessed on 12 November 2016).
- Otoo, K.N. 2013. Foundation chapter trade Union services and benefits in Africa.In Kalusopa, T., Otoo, K.N. & Shindondola-Mote, H. (Eds) Trade Union Services and Benefits in Africa. African Labour Research Network :Accra 17-14.
- Phiri, B . 2013. Trade union services and benefits in Zambia. In Kalusopa, T., Otoo, K.N. & Shindodola-Mote, H. (Eds). Trade union services and benefits in Africa.
- African Labour Research Network Accra: 392-432 Pickard, A. 2012. Research methods in information. Facet publishing. London Rogers, J. and Streeck, W., 1994. Workplace Representation Overseas: The Works Councils Story.
- Working under different rules. New York: R.B. Freeman and Russell Sage Foundation, pp.97-156.
- Roman, L.J. & Mason, R.B. 2015. Employment equity in the South African retail sector: Legal versus competence and business imperatives. South African Journal of Labour Relations 39(2):.84-104.
- Swanepoel, J. 1996. Sixty Years: A History in the Making. Pretoria. Iscor Thelen, K.A., 1991. Union of parts: Labor politics in postwar Germany. Cornell University Press.
- Tshoaedi, M. 2012. (En)gendering the transition in South Africa: the role of COSATU women activists. Transformation: Critical Perspectives on Southern Africa 78(1):1-26.
- Waterman, P. 1993. Social-Movement Unionism: A New Union Model for a New Review (Fernand Braudel Center) 16 (3): 245-278.
References
ArcelorMittal. 2007. Annual Report 2007. Johannesburg: ArcelorMittal South Africa.
Bacon, N.& Blyton, P. 2004.Trade union responses to workplace restructuring: exploring union orientations and actions. Work, Employment & Society, 18(4):749-773.
Buhlungu, S. 2001. Democracy and Modernisation in the Making of the South African Trade Union Movement: The dilemma of leadership, 1973 – 2000, unpublished PhD thesis, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Broner Metals Solutions, 2007. Broner Wins Third Major Project with ArcelorMittal. [pdf ] Watford: Broner Newsletter. Available at: <http://www.bronermetals.com/documents/newsletter/Broner_newsletter_No9_%20Aug07.pdf> (Accessed 14 August 2017).
Business Editors and High-Tech Writers, 2001. Largest Steel Producer in Africa Selects Veraon for Real-Time Manufacturing Data. Sunnyvale : Business Wire. [Online] Available at:http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Largest+Steel+Producer+in+Africa+Selects+Verano+for+Real-Time...-a080152831 > (Accessed 14 August 2017).
Chikutu, J. 1982. A Study of Trade Union Education and Research Work in Kenya: Present trends and future improvement. Available at: https://idl-bnc.idrc.ca/dspace/bitstream/10625/12335/1/96516.pdf (accessed on 12 November 2016).
COSATU. 2012. Workers’ Survey. Johannesburg: COSATU.
Croock, S. & Hlatshwayo, M. 2016. Physical Output to Value of Machinery, Employee Numbers. Unpublished Document.
Curtis, S, Gesler, W, Smith, G, & Washburn, S. 2000. Approaches to sampling and case selection in qualitative research: examples in the geography of health: Social Science & Medicine 50(7): 1001-1014.
Denzin, N.K. & Lincoln, Y.S. 2008. Collecting and interpreting qualitative materials (Vol. 3). Thousand Oaks :Sage.
Forrest, K. 2011. Metal That Will Not Bend: National Union Metalworkers of South Africa 1980 -1995.Johannesburg: Wits University Press.
Gentle, L. 2009. Trade Union Responses to Lean Production. Cape Town: International Labour Research and Information Group.
Ghosh, P., Nandan, S. & Gupta, A. 2009. The changing roles of trade unions in India: a case study of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC): Unchahar. Asian Academy of Management Journal 14(1):37-57.
Hlatshwayo, M.S., 2013. A sociological analysis of trade union responses to technological changes at the ArcelorMittal Vanderbijlpark Plant, 1989-2011 (Doctoral). University of Johannesburg
Mathews, J. 1994. Catching the wave: Workplace reform in Australia (No. 26). Ithica: Cornell University Press.
Mittal Steel South Africa, 2004. Annual Report 2004. [Online] Available at: <http://www.arcelormittalsa.com/InvestorRelations/2004/annual/downloads/reports. pdf> (accessed on 14 August 2017).
NUMSA. 2012a. “Numsa Policy Resolutions: Numsa Education Communication and Research, 1987 to end June 2012”, http://www.numsa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Section-3-NUMSA-Education-and-Ciommunication-Edited-Version-5-consolidated-changes.htm (accessed on 14 November 2016).
NUMSA. 2012b. Secretariat Report: Political, economic, social and international trajectory NUMSA, 9th National Congress, 4-8 June 2012, Durban.
NUMSA. 2013. Numsa Special National Congress December 2013 Discussion Document 4. Positioning NUMSA as a shield and spear of struggling workers http://www.sahistory.org.za/sites/default/files/29-nov-2013-numsa-shield-and-spear-oct-24-20132.pdf (accessed on 14 November 2016).
NUMSA. 2016. 2016 NUMSA National Bargaining Conference, 24 April 2016 25 April 2016, Posted in 2016 NUMSA National Bargaining Conference, Press Releases
http://www.numsa.org.za/article/declaration-2016-numsa-national-bargaining-conference-24-april-2016/ (accessed on 12 November 2016).
Otoo, K.N. 2013. Foundation chapter trade Union services and benefits in Africa.In Kalusopa, T., Otoo, K.N. & Shindondola-Mote, H. (Eds) Trade Union Services and Benefits in Africa. African Labour Research Network :Accra 17-14.
Phiri, B . 2013. Trade union services and benefits in Zambia. In Kalusopa, T., Otoo, K.N. & Shindodola-Mote, H. (Eds). Trade union services and benefits in Africa.
African Labour Research Network Accra: 392-432 Pickard, A. 2012. Research methods in information. Facet publishing. London Rogers, J. and Streeck, W., 1994. Workplace Representation Overseas: The Works Councils Story.
Working under different rules. New York: R.B. Freeman and Russell Sage Foundation, pp.97-156.
Roman, L.J. & Mason, R.B. 2015. Employment equity in the South African retail sector: Legal versus competence and business imperatives. South African Journal of Labour Relations 39(2):.84-104.
Swanepoel, J. 1996. Sixty Years: A History in the Making. Pretoria. Iscor Thelen, K.A., 1991. Union of parts: Labor politics in postwar Germany. Cornell University Press.
Tshoaedi, M. 2012. (En)gendering the transition in South Africa: the role of COSATU women activists. Transformation: Critical Perspectives on Southern Africa 78(1):1-26.
Waterman, P. 1993. Social-Movement Unionism: A New Union Model for a New Review (Fernand Braudel Center) 16 (3): 245-278.