Collective bargaining in South Africa has a long and difficult history. Under
apartheid and especially prior to the Wiehahn Commission’s recommendations
in 1979, collective bargaining was the preserve of Whites, Indians and
Coloureds. Until then Black 1 workers were not defined as “employees” and
while they could form and join trade unions, such unions were not recognized
under the Industrial Conciliation Act of 1924.2 Th is meant that black
trade unions could not join industrial councils – forerunners of today’s bargaining
councils – and black workers remained eff effectively excluded from the
racialized bargaining system.