Die invloed van onderwyservakbonde op die werkstevredenheid van opvoeders

Abstract

The role of unions in South Africa has changed noticeably over the past years since the establishment of the first unions in the 1850’s up to date. Earlier unions were established due to sentiment and their focus was not on collective bargaining. There was no workers representation of blacks in the industry, especially not between black employees and white employers. Relationships primarily consisted of face to face master servant interactions. South Africa’s employment relationship changed dramatically with the advent of the mining industry, after the discovery of diamonds and gold in 1872. A series of events led to unions being what they are today with collective bargaining as their main focus. It appears however that the needs of union members over the years have changed. The participants with whom the researcher conducted interviews made it clear that they would like more involvement from their unions in the execution of their daily work in order to experience more job satisfaction. They would be more satisfied if their unions empowered educators on the different post levels at school more. Unions should also be more pro active regarding development in the education. The purpose of the study was to determine to which extent educator unions contributed to their members’ job satisfaction or –dissatisfaction.