Are trade unions still relevant?

Workers’ Day is observed annually on the 1st of May and it is marked as a time to celebrate workers’ rights and recognise the critical role that trade unions have played in advancing those rights. However, in today’s rapidly changing labour landscape, questions are being raised about the strength, relevance, and future of trade unions.

With declining membership, internal divisions, and the deregistration of certain unions in recent years, many are asking: are unions losing their influence, or are they more essential now than ever before? As workers across the country are expected to gather this coming Friday to commemorate this historic day, we take a closer look at the evolving role of trade unions in representing workers’ interests in the modern era.

To unpack this, we are joined by Jamela Mhlarhi, COSATU Young Workers National Chairperson, and labour expert Dr Trevor Ngwane.

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