Answer to Question #211023 in Management for alu

Question

Membership of the largest federation of trade unions, COSATU, has declined by 400 000 over the past few years. Discuss five main reasons why you think this might be happening. (bullet points are acceptable)

Answer 1

Firstly, there has been a decline due to leadership wrangles in the trade unions. Secondly, the struggling economy has led to layoffs thus people withdrawing from the unions. Thirdly, there has been the growth in the informal sector has grown in South Africa and this has led to the sub-division of existing jobs rather than job creation. Fourthly, levels of unionization have fallen, and the role of organized labor has declined. Work is now often outsourced and casualized. Lastly, the rise of technology has led to people becoming self-employed and thus reducing the labor force to join unions.