Workers' right to freedom of association and trade unionism in South Africa : an historical perspective

Abstract

Workers' right to freedom of association is the fundamental labour right. In the workplace, the right to freedom of association is essentially an ''enabling'' right which entitles workers to form and join workers' organisations of their own choice in order to promote common organisational interests. For workers, freedom of association is a means of facilitating the realisation of further rights, rather than just a right in itself. It is considered the single essential right for workers from which other rights flow and without which other rights are illusory. It is therefore referred to as a ''shorthand expression for a bundle of rights and freedoms relating to membership of associations of workers and employers''.