The influence of workers’ union’s waning

• Thabile Mange writes:

May Day has come and gone. This historic day presents an opportunity for workers to take stock and celebrate their successes if there are any. It seems there are more losses than wins for workers.

The truth is: the number of workers has decreased and is it expected to decline even further in years to come. Consequently, the power (bargaining, striking, and so on) of employees is waning, if not already.

Also read: About Workers’ Day

On the other hand, the voice of workers union organisations is becoming faint by the day. I only hear the voice of Cosatu leader Zingiswa Losi once or twice a year. In fact, many workers don’t know who the leader of Cosatu is.

Another factor contributing to the weakness of union organisations is corruption. Workers’ money is used by union leaders for personal gain. And not much attention is being paid to these organisations in relation to corruption and mismanagement.

Also read: Temporary workers, NPOs express their anger over budget cuts

In addition, the nature of work has changed. Many companies have adopted work from home as part of their work. Property companies that are leasing office space are losing revenue as a result.

When workers spend most of their time away from the office, there are fewer labor disputes. There are also fewer union meetings. This results in unions becoming irrelevant. Are the union organisations taking note of these developments?

Today’s unionists are charlatans and sleep with management. In other words, they push the agenda of the employer at the expense of workers. They are looking after their interests. Hence, workers have lost confidence in unions.

In conclusion, the future of union organisations looks bleak. They also don’t seem to be ready and prepared for change, which is already happening. They are stuck in the past.