Beyond Decent Work: Fighting for Unions and Equality in Africa Key note speech by Prof. Lucien van der Walt, Rhodes University during the "Strategy Conference on Trade Union Transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa 2018" Hosted by FES Trade Union Competence Centre Sub-Saharan Africa - TUCC and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Tanzania. A copy of the paper can be found … Continue reading [VIDEO] Lucien van der Walt, 2018, “Beyond Decent Work: Fighting for Unions and Equality in Africa”
Category: Neo-liberalism & privatisation
Examining neo-liberal state/ capitalist restructuring, its aims, effects and popular class struggles that fight back
Lucien van der Walt, 2019, “Rebuilding the Workers’ Movement for Counter-Power, Justice and Self-Management: A Contribution to the Debate”
Lucien van der Walt, 2019, "Rebuilding the Workers’ Movement for Counter-Power, Justice and Self-Management: A Contribution to the Debate" (Amandla!, Number 63, Pp. 24-25 ) PDF online HERE. Full text below. THE ROBUST EXCHANGE BETWEEN comrades Ronald Wesso and Mametlwe Sebei, in the pages of recent issues of Amandla!, over the South African Federation of … Continue reading Lucien van der Walt, 2019, “Rebuilding the Workers’ Movement for Counter-Power, Justice and Self-Management: A Contribution to the Debate”
[PRESS]: On unions, in 2019, “Vavi Happier to be Outside the ANC Alliance Now”
https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/protests/2082886/vavi-happier-to-be-outside-the-anc-alliance-now/ Simnikiwe Hlatshaneni, 14.2.2019, "Vavi happier to be outside the ANC alliance now," The Citizen He wants people to understand, though, that trade union fragmentation does not ‘serve the agenda of the workers’. Is it indeed colder outside the ANC tripartite alliance? South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) boss Zwelinzima Vavi says recent events, such as … Continue reading [PRESS]: On unions, in 2019, “Vavi Happier to be Outside the ANC Alliance Now”
[TALK + AUDIO]: Keynote: Lucien van der Walt, 2018, “What are we Fighting For? Possibilities for Decent Work, Unions and Rights in Africa,” Conference on Trade Union Transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa, Tanzania
Lucien van der Walt, 2018, “What are we Fighting For? Possibilities for Decent Work, Unions and Rights in Africa,” Keynote Address, Conference on Trade Union Transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa, Ledger Plaza Bahari Beach Hotel, Kunduchi, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), 29 October-2 November. The talk, as circulated at the conference, is HERE … Continue reading [TALK + AUDIO]: Keynote: Lucien van der Walt, 2018, “What are we Fighting For? Possibilities for Decent Work, Unions and Rights in Africa,” Conference on Trade Union Transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa, Tanzania
[CONFERENCE] Lucien van der Walt, 1998, “Anarcho-syndicalist Economics, or, Beyond Markets and Marxism: Is There a Future for Socialist Economics Today?”
Lucien van der Walt, 1998, "Anarcho-syndicalist Economics, or, Beyond Markets and Marxism: Is There a Future for Socialist Economics today?" paper presented at Colloquium: Justice, Policy and Change in Southern Africa, Postgraduate Forum, University of the Witwatersrand, 3 October. Note: If I did this paper now, I would more clearly exclude Proudhon from the canon, … Continue reading [CONFERENCE] Lucien van der Walt, 1998, “Anarcho-syndicalist Economics, or, Beyond Markets and Marxism: Is There a Future for Socialist Economics Today?”
[ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2010, “COSATU’s Response to the Crisis: an Anarcho-Syndicalist Assessment and Alternative” [ASR]
Lucien van der Walt, 2011, "COSATU's Response to the Crisis: An Anarcho-Syndicalist Assessment and Alternative," ASR/ Anarcho-syndicalist Review, number 56, pp. 11-13. PDF of Anarcho-syndicalist Review version here
[SPEECH] Lucien van der Walt, 2000, “From the South: For Another Future through Social Resistance,” May Day mass meeting, Paris
Popular talk: Lucien van der Walt, 2000, "From the South: For Another Future through Social Resistance," speech at May Day mass meeting, Le Autre Futur union congress, Paris, France. These are what I have from a speech I gave at a May Day mass meeting in Paris, France, in 2000. The mass meeting was the closing even … Continue reading [SPEECH] Lucien van der Walt, 2000, “From the South: For Another Future through Social Resistance,” May Day mass meeting, Paris
[TALK] Lucien van der Walt, 2017, “The Political Economy of the Rhodes Industrial Action,” seminar on “Students and the Strike,” Asinimali, Rhodes University, 28 April.
Popular talk: Lucien van der Walt, 2017, “The Political Economy of the Rhodes Industrial Action,” seminar on “Students and the Strike,” Asinimali, Rhodes University, 28 April. This talk was part of a panel arranged by the 'Asinimali' student group at Rhodes University, South Africa, as an unprecedented strike by staff took place at the institution. The … Continue reading [TALK] Lucien van der Walt, 2017, “The Political Economy of the Rhodes Industrial Action,” seminar on “Students and the Strike,” Asinimali, Rhodes University, 28 April.
[PRESS]: Lucien van der Walt on incoming “neo-liberal” Wits VC [2001]
Daisy Jones, 2001, "Reid Aims for Respected, Transformed Wits," Business Day, 14 June Get the PDF here
[TALK]: Lucien van der Walt, 1998, “Low Wages will not Create Jobs, Struggle will”
Lucien van der Walt, 1998, "Low Wages Will Not Create Jobs , Struggle Will," Workers Solidarity meeting, Workers Library and Museum, Newtown, Johannesburg, 15 August The bosses and the government say that low wages will lead to more jobs. This is in the GEAR (government) and the SA Foundation (big business) policies. Both government and … Continue reading [TALK]: Lucien van der Walt, 1998, “Low Wages will not Create Jobs, Struggle will”
[ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2001, “Racism, Neo-Liberalism and Class Struggle in South Africa”
Lucien van der Walt, 2001, "Racism, Neo-Liberalism and Class Struggle in South Africa" Bikisha Media Collective, South Africa Article for Comunismo Libertario (Italy): published as Lucien van der Walt, June 2001, "Razzismo, neoliberismo e lotta di classe in Sudafrica," Comunismo Libertario, no. 51, p. 8 (part 1) and November-December 2001, "Razzismo, neoliberismo e Iotta di classe … Continue reading [ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2001, “Racism, Neo-Liberalism and Class Struggle in South Africa”
[TALK]: Lucien van der Walt, 2007, “South Africa: Will the workers and the poor benefit from the 2010 World Cup?” Red and Black Forum
Lucien van der Walt, 2007, "South Africa: Will the workers and the poor benefit from the 2010 World Cup?" Red and Black Forum, Khanya College, 5 May. Comrades. As you know, South Africa’s success in winning the 2010 bid for the World Cup has been announced with great fanfare. The World Soccer Cup is the … Continue reading [TALK]: Lucien van der Walt, 2007, “South Africa: Will the workers and the poor benefit from the 2010 World Cup?” Red and Black Forum
[TALK]: Lucien van der Walt, 2002, “The Outsourcing of Support Services in Higher Education,” SWOP ‘Brown Bag’ seminar
Lucien van der Walt, 2002, "The Outsourcing of Support Services in Higher Education," SWOP "Brown Bag" seminar, University of Witwatersrand, 9 May, SH2187. The debates over university restructuring - of “transformation” - have been complex, and very heated. But in some ways, though, these debates have generated far more heat than light. Issues such as the … Continue reading [TALK]: Lucien van der Walt, 2002, “The Outsourcing of Support Services in Higher Education,” SWOP ‘Brown Bag’ seminar
[PRESS]: “Academics support student struggle: Democratise higher education now” [2015]
Academics support student struggle: Democratise higher education now 22 October 2015, Mail and Guardian, here A collective statement from academics at South African institutions of higher education. As academics in South African institutions of higher education, we stand with students in their fight for the democratisation of our universities. The current student protests that have … Continue reading [PRESS]: “Academics support student struggle: Democratise higher education now” [2015]
[PRESS]: Lucien van der Walt on university outsourcing [2002]
The outsourced university 14 June 2002, Mail and Guardian, here David Macfarlane Low-wage workers have been prime victims of transformation in South African higher education, and unions at universities have been eroded in the process. While institutional power relations that disadvantage workers have placed much of the burden of restructuring on them, the main blame … Continue reading [PRESS]: Lucien van der Walt on university outsourcing [2002]
Lucien van der Walt 