The Impact of Societal Forces on Receptiveness to Trade Unions in the SANDF [South African National Defence Force]

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Periodical article

Title:	The Impact of Societal Forces on Receptiveness to Trade Unions in the SANDF [South African National Defence Force]
Author:	Heinecken, Lindy
Year:	1998
Periodical:	Africa Insight
Volume:	28
Issue:	1-2
Pages:	84-89
Language:	English
Geographic term:	South Africa
Subjects:	trade unions armed forces Economics and Trade Labor and Employment Ethnic and Race Relations Military, Defense and Arms
Abstract:	Of late, there has been increasing pressure on the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to extend labour rights to members of the armed forces. Currently, members are prohibited from belonging to trade unions and participating in their activities under the Defence Act. Based on the European experience of military unionism a model has been developed to explain the factors that either promote or retard the development of military unions. Based on this model an assessment is made whether the SANDF is likely to face the possibility of unionization among soldiers. Both the driving and restraining forces are addressed under the headings: support for military unionism; dominant trade union culture; public sector advocacy; the status of the military in society; and Department of Defence labour policy. The conclusion is that societal forces have a significant impact on the desire for unionization in the armed services. In the South African situation one of the main driving forces is the rights enshrined in the Constitution. Notes, ref.