Category: Unions: analysis & strategy

Documenting and examining the struggles of trade unions, generally from an anarcho-syndicalist perspective

[BOOK] “Labour Struggles in Southern Africa 1919-1949: New Perspectives on the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU)” (David Johnson, Noor Nieftagodien & Lucien van der Walt, 2022)

David Johnson, Noor Nieftagodien and Lucien van der Walt (eds.), 2022, Labour Struggles in Southern Africa 1919-1949: New Perspectives on the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU), Cape Town: HSRC Press, 308pp. Materials from the publisher are HERE. Introduction (David Johnson, Noor Nieftagodien and Lucien van der Walt) Section A: The ICU in Southern Africa … Continue reading [BOOK] “Labour Struggles in Southern Africa 1919-1949: New Perspectives on the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU)” (David Johnson, Noor Nieftagodien & Lucien van der Walt, 2022) →

[ANALYSIS] Lucien van der Walt, 2008, “Political Differences on the Role of the State and of Trade Unions: Neo-liberal, Social Democratic and Socialist Views” (DITSELA / COSATU)

Lucien van der Walt, 2008, "Political Differences on the Role of the State and of Trade Unions: Neo-liberal, Social Democratic and Socialist Views," in Organiser Modules - Module 3:  Political Economy and Alternative Organising under Neo-liberal Capitalism in South Africa, Development Institute for Training, Support and Education for Labour (DITSELA) / Congress of South African … Continue reading [ANALYSIS] Lucien van der Walt, 2008, “Political Differences on the Role of the State and of Trade Unions: Neo-liberal, Social Democratic and Socialist Views” (DITSELA / COSATU) →

[TALK]: Lucien van der Walt, 2003, “University Restructuring: Whose Gain, Whose Pain, Whose Transformation?,” poster for talk to UDW’s Combined Staff Assoc.

This was a talk I gave to the independent Combined Staff Association (COMSA) at the University of Durban-Westville, Durban as part of a campaign against outsourcing. The published talk is HERE. Poster in PDF is HERE.      

[WORKSHOP] Lucien van der Walt, 2020, “The Working Class and the Crisis: Mapping a Long March,” Labour Community Media Forums

Lucien van der Walt, 2020, “The Working Class and the Crisis: Mapping a Long March,” Labour Community Media Forums EC Provincial Workshop Programme, Noluthando Hall, Joza, Makhanda, 22 October. `              

[WORKSHOP]: Lucien van der Walt, 2020, “Working Class Heritage: The Creation of the Working Class and its Struggles in South Africa,” Sundays River Valley Farm Workers Forum

Workshop input: Lucien van der Walt, 2020, "Working Class Heritage: The Creation of the Working Class and its Struggles in South Africa" Heritage Day event,   Sundays River Valley Farm Workers Forum, Masizakhe Community Hall, Nomathamsanqa township, Addo, Eastern Cape, 26 September.  

[ANALYSIS] Lucien van der Walt, 2020, “Building the Union for the Future: Linking Bottom-up Workers Education to Union Revitalisation”

Lucien van der Walt (2020), "Building the Union for the Future: Linking Bottom-up Workers Education to Union Revitalisation," Amandla, number 71/ 72, pp. 32-34 PDF of this article HERE This article is based on a plenary talk at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, Ilorin, Nigeria, in November 2019. DISCUSSIONS OF UNION education and … Continue reading [ANALYSIS] Lucien van der Walt, 2020, “Building the Union for the Future: Linking Bottom-up Workers Education to Union Revitalisation” →

[CHAPTER]: van der Walt & Moussouris (2020), “Anarcho-syndicalism and Union Education in South Africa: A Critical Evaluation of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Tradition”

Lucien van der Walt and Mandy Moussouris (2020), “Anarcho-syndicalism and Union Education in South Africa: A Critical Evaluation of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Tradition,” in Linda Cooper and Sheri Hamilton (eds.), Renewing Workers’ Education: Towards a Radical, Alternative Vision, HSRC Press: Cape Town, pp. 199-214. PDF of this chapter HERE  

[ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2000, “Wits 2001: Privatisation at Wits University,” Anti-Privatisation Monitor

Lucien van der Walt, 2000, "Wits 2001: Privatisation at Wits University," Anti-Privatisation Monitor, number 1, p. 3. PDF HERE

[TRANSLATED]: Lucien van der Walt, 2001, “Phansi i-GEAR phansi!,” ‘Zabalaza’

Lucien van der Walt, 2001, "Phansi i-GEAR phansi!," Zabalaza: A Journal of Southern African Revolutionary Anarchism, number 1, p. 2.   PDF HERE Mumso oke fokotse tshebediso ya tjhelete. Gear e re mmuso o sebedisa tjhelete e ngata mme e tshwanela ho fokotsa batho ba sebeletsang mmuso, hore o tle o kgone ho lefella dithoto bophelo … Continue reading [TRANSLATED]: Lucien van der Walt, 2001, “Phansi i-GEAR phansi!,” ‘Zabalaza’ →

[TRANSLATED]: Lucien van der Walt, 2000, “Phansi GEAR phansi!”

Lucien van der Walt, 2000, "Phansi GEAR phansi!," Anti-Privatisation Monitor, number 1, p. 13. PDF here Phansi GEAR Phansi! LUCIEN VAN DER WALT, WITS UNIVERSITY APF Mumso oke fokotse tshebediso ya tjhelete. Gear e re mmuso o sebedisa tjhelete e ngata mme e tshwanela ho fokotsa batho ba sebeletsang mmuso, hore o tle o kgone … Continue reading [TRANSLATED]: Lucien van der Walt, 2000, “Phansi GEAR phansi!” →

[ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2005, “Zimbabwe: Time for an End to the Electoral Road”

Lucien van der Walt, 2005, "Zimbabwe: Time for an End to the Electoral Road," Zabalaza: A Southern African Journal of revolutionary anarchism, number 6, pp. 13-14.  Get the PDF here ZIMBABWE: TIME FOR AN END TO THE ELECTORAL ROAD The April 2004 elections pose tough questions for the MDC, ZCTU. The choices made now will have … Continue reading [ANALYSIS]: Lucien van der Walt, 2005, “Zimbabwe: Time for an End to the Electoral Road” →

Lucien van der Walt, 2001, “Reverse the Drive to Privatise: Fighting Neo-liberalism in South African Higher Education”

Lucien van der Walt, 2001, Reverse the Drive to Privatise: Fighting Neo-liberalism in South African Higher Education, Zabalaza Books, Durban, Johannesburg.  Introducing the text: This was a long pamphlet from an anarchist/ syndicalist perspective that located the post-apartheid neo-liberal reforms and attacks on workers in state universities in South Africa within a larger context: the neo-liberal … Continue reading Lucien van der Walt, 2001, “Reverse the Drive to Privatise: Fighting Neo-liberalism in South African Higher Education” →

[RESEARCH REPORT] van der Walt, Bolsmann, Johnson and Martin, 2002, “The Outsourced University: A Survey of the Rise of Support Service Outsourcing in Public Sector Higher Education in South Africa…”, SWOP Research Report 11

Lucien van der Walt, Chris Bolsmann, Bernadette Johnson and Lindsey Martin, 2002, The Outsourced University: A Survey of the Rise of Support Service Outsourcing in Public Sector Higher Education in South Africa, and its effects on workers and trade unions, 1994-2001, Sociology of Work Unit (SWOP, now  Society, Work and Development Institute), University of the … Continue reading [RESEARCH REPORT] van der Walt, Bolsmann, Johnson and Martin, 2002, “The Outsourced University: A Survey of the Rise of Support Service Outsourcing in Public Sector Higher Education in South Africa…”, SWOP Research Report 11 →