Drawing on information gathered by means of one-on-one interviews, and supplemented and
supported by a vast depth of literature in the respective field, this study aims to identify and
discuss the effects of non-standard work on the modus operandi of trade unions in South Africa.
The study makes use of a relative small sample of seven experts in the field of industrial
relations/industrial sociology, and research interviews were conducted based on an interview
schedule, but not limited to it. Although the South African trade union movement operates in
much the same if not entirely same manner as it did pre-1994, a number of factors have been
identified and discussed which have impacted on and affected the labour movement at both
organisational and grassroots level.
Table of Contents
1. ABSTRACT
2. INTRODUCTION
3. METHOD
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
WHAT EFFECTS HAVE NON-STANDARD FORMS OF WORK HAD ON THE MODUS OPERANDI OF TRADE UNIONS?
WHY HAVE UNIONS HAD LIMITED SUCCESS IN ORGANISING NON-STANDARD WORKERS?
ARE THERE REALISTIC STRATEGIES IN PLACE FOR ORGANISING NON-STANDARD WORKERS?
ARE THERE ANY BENEFITS FOR NON-STANDARD WORKERS IN JOINING TRADE UNIONS?
5. CONCLUSION
6. APPENDIXES
Research Objective and Key Themes
The primary research objective is to examine how the proliferation of non-standard forms of work—such as casualization and outsourcing—impacts the traditional modus operandi of trade unions in South Africa. The research aims to understand the challenges unions face in organizing these workers and whether they currently possess effective strategies to represent this growing, vulnerable segment of the labor force.
- The impact of non-standard work on trade union modus operandi.
- Reasons behind the limited success in organizing non-standard workers.
- Challenges related to the reconceptualization of the workplace.
- Evaluation of potential organizing strategies and worker benefits.
- The crisis of representation facing the labor movement.
Excerpt from the Book
INTRODUCTION
South Africa’s transition to democracy in 1994 was not only significant in political terms, but the transition can generally be referred to as a “triple transition” (Von Holdt & Webster, 2005: 4) encompassing political, economic and social dimensions. In terms of political transition, one sees a move away from an overtly authoritarian state to a democracy; economic in a move away from a locally focused economy to one that has become globally integrated and social in that there has been wide scale redistribution of access to resources and power, skills and occupations (Von Holdt & Webster, 2005:4; Ballard, Habib, Valodia & Zuern, 2005:615). Each of these transitions has had significant implications, but for the purposes here, further attention will only be given to the political and economic.
Thus, although the political transition has created a platform from which the organised labour movement has won considerable gains for workers, in terms of a floor of minimum standards which are solidified in legislation, the forces of globalization and the need to remain increasingly competitive in the global market has forced employers to search for ways and means by which to bypass labour legislation providing them with relative flexibility. In this search for flexibility employers have discovered innovative means to undermine labour legislation as well as the minimum floor of rights of workers. This process has given rise to new, non-standard forms of work such as casualisation, externalisation and informalisation (Theron, 2005: 301-302).
Summary of Chapters
1. ABSTRACT: Provides an overview of the qualitative study focusing on the effects of non-standard work on South African trade unions through expert interviews.
2. INTRODUCTION: Discusses the context of South Africa’s "triple transition" and the rise of non-standard employment as a result of global economic pressures.
3. METHOD: Details the qualitative research design, utilizing expert interviews and secondary literature to explore industrial relations.
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Analyzes the impacts on trade union operations, reasons for organizing failures, existing strategies, and the potential benefits for workers joining unions.
5. CONCLUSION: Synthesizes findings on the crisis of representation and suggests that future union success depends on adapting strategies to overcome the forces of non-standard labor.
6. APPENDIXES: Contains the reference list, self-critique, interview schedule, and correspondence materials.
Keywords
Non-standard work, Trade unions, South Africa, Labour movement, Casualisation, Externalisation, Industrial relations, Modus operandi, Labour legislation, Crisis of representation, Workplace restructuring, Standard employment relationship, Organizing strategies, Labour market flexibility, Vulnerable workers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research investigates the influence of non-standard forms of employment (such as casual and outsourced work) on the traditional operational methods and effectiveness of South African trade unions.
What are the primary thematic areas explored?
The study examines the erosion of labor rights, the crisis of union representation, the changing nature of the workplace, and the challenges of labor solidarity in the context of globalization.
What is the primary research goal?
The primary goal is to determine how non-standard work has altered the labor landscape and to assess why trade unions have struggled to organize workers in these new, precarious segments.
Which methodology was employed for this study?
The study uses a qualitative methodology, primarily based on structured, one-on-one interviews with seven experts in industrial sociology and industrial relations, supported by extensive literature review.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the impacts of non-standard work on union modus operandi, causes for limited organizing success, potential strategies for future organization, and the perceived benefits of union membership for non-standard workers.
Which keywords characterize this report?
Key terms include non-standard work, trade unions, casualisation, externalisation, labour market flexibility, and crisis of representation.
What role does the "triple transition" play in the author's argument?
The author uses the "triple transition" to contextualize how South Africa’s political and economic shifts post-1994 led to a globalized economy, inadvertently fostering workplace restructuring and non-standard work.
Why were trade unionists omitted from the final interview sample?
The author found it impossible to secure responses from trade unions, but argues that this helped maintain objectivity, as union officials might have struggled to candidly address the movement's failings.
How does the author view the potential for future legislation?
The author concludes that new government legislation aimed at regulating non-standard work could provide a critical platform for unions to re-engage and organize these vulnerable workers.
- Citation du texte
- Nico Smit (Auteur), 2009, Trade Unions and Non-Standard Forms of Work: A Shifting Modus Operandi, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/159599
