from a Croydon correspondent 4
1 600 A representative of the South African Congress of Trade Unions (SA0TU) has as a result of discussions with a number of leading trade unionists announced the setting up of a permanent “"SACTU FUND" in London = so that British trade unionists can make regular donations to assist the work of SACTU, Mr. Bob “dwards, M.P., will be the. treasurer of the fund, and all monies will be tran¢ferred to SACTU through him, The circular announcing the launching of the fund says that all cheques should be made cut to him at: 374, Grays Inn Rd,, London W.C, 1.
The South African Congress of Trades Unions is the only non—-racial co-ordinating body of trade unions in South Africa. It has 55 affiliated trade unions representing 55,000 workers mostly non-white , Althoughit is apmarent from the figures that there are only a small number of organised workors, this is due to fdar of victimisation, which can mean much more than just losing a job. However, SACTU influences very large numbers of unorganised workors,
Strikes are illegal in South Africa but they do take place and SACTU has a very heavy expenditure in litigation, Trade unionism in Seuth Africa is subject to all kinds of restrictions, For instance, before an African can obtain a job he mist produce oa pass, he mst live in the correct aron and should he lose his job hoe stands tho risk of being sent back to tho Reserves, Recently, the Government has used the mothod of restricting T.U. leaders to cortnin araas, This is usually done when o T.U. loader has become established, In recent months the Government has forced .SACTU's gonoral secretary and prasident to resigns
SACTU is now in desperate financial straits, Ths organisers which it employes are paid £25 per month — bolow poverty data, There only four organisers to 400,000 Africans in the mining industry. I+ should have at least 10 organisers for the one million farmworkers, yet they can only afford three. Trade unions in Johannesburg share one typewriter and one duplicator betweon them. In a big country like South Africa travel is very expensive. To meet this SACTU needs 12 scooters (4 each for Johannesburg and Durban, 2 each for Cape Town and Port Eliznboth) as well as one jeep,