Published in the 50th anniversary year of the 1973 Durban strikes, Labour Disrupted honours this milestone by reflecting on the past and the future of labour, primarily in South Africa but also globally. It focuses on how South Africa’s lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic further exposed key contradictions and challenges that labour movements face.
The contributions include a diverse range of topics by those actively engaged in the labour movement, who tackle a number of thorny issues: from redefining democracy in South Africa, to experiences of inclusiveness (or lack thereof) in workplace environments by women, young people, migrant workers, LGBTI people and people living with disabilities. They address contemporary issues related to the use of technology and the impact of the fourth industrial revolution on the youth and the working class, and the challenge of skills development and restructuring in the workplace.
Labour Disrupted debates new forms of organising and labour movement alliances required to address issues of social justice in education, health and community solidarity, and exposes the precariousness of union organisation under the brutal forces of globalisation.
Asanda Benya is a senior lecturer in the Department of Sociology at the University of Cape Town.
Janet Cherry is Professor of Development Studies at the Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth.
Mondli Hlatshwayo is a senior researcher in the Centre for Education Rights and Transformation at the University of Johannesburg.
Aisha Lorgat is a researcher at the Chris Hani Institute.
Babalwa Magoqwana is the interim Director for the Centre for Women and Gender Studies at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha.