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Master of Industrial Relations / Australia, during the twenty five years that followed the end of the Second World War, experienced increased prosperity and a stable industrial relations system in which the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission (the federal commission) played a dominant and authoritative role. The NSW building boom which began in the latter part of the 1950s introduced new technology, concentrated building workers in the central business district of Sydney, and broadened the range of skills required of builders' labourers. The major NSW building tradesmen's union, the Building Workers' Industrial Union (NSW/BWIU), had a communist leadership. The national body of that union lost its federal industrial registration in 1948, and the NSW/BWIU moderated its behaviour after it nearly lost its own, NSW state, registration in 1957. The Australian Building Construction Employees and Builders' Labourers Federation (ABLF) had a federal award under which most of the members of its NSW branch (NSW/BLF) were employed. The leadership of both the ABLF and of the NSW/BLF were communist. The Communist Party of Australia (CPA) suffered a defection by the ABLF leadership in the early 1960s to a communist party which endorsed Marxist- Leninist policies. The BWIU leadership also left the CPA (and formed the Socialist Party of Australia) following an announced shift in policy direction by the CPA in 1969. That shift in policy abandoned the `united front' concept and adopted ultra-left policies which advocated vanguard action by small groups. The announcement by the CPA of its new policies occurred after the gaoling of a Victorian union leader which signalled the virtual collapse of the previously authoritative, and punitive, role of the federal commission. The structure and politics of society underwent enormous change during the 1960s and early 1970s which was an era of protest during which various social movements were formed. The NSW/BLF became a major participant in those protests and movements, and conducted various industrial and social campaigns during the first half of the 1970s. Those campaigns were conducted in line with the ultra-left policies of the CPA, and this isolated the NSW/BLF from its federal body and from the trade union movement generally. This thesis analyses some of the campaigns conducted by the NSW/BLF during the period 1970-1974 and the various responses by the Master Builders Association of NSW (MBA/NSW) to those campaigns. The MBA/NSW broadened its membership base during the 1950s, and the effect that its new membership structure had on its decision-making processes is also considered.

Most hostels are being redeveloped through the Hostel Redevelopment Programme from single sex accommodation to rental (family) units. The study was conducted on the City Deep and Nobuhle Hostel Redevelopment Projects as implemented in the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality (COJMM). Hostel Redevelopment Projects proved to contribute positively towards addressing the challenges and housing shortages in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province. There is a need for Government to plan other projects concurrently with the Hostel Redevelopment Projects as an attempt to deal with the displacees resulting from the Hostel Redevelopment Projects. Furthermore, there is also a need to redevelop each hostel in its totality as opposed to only a few phases of improvement. There is also a need for Government (COJMM) to design frameworks that will guide any proposed Hostel Redevelopment Project as an attempt to achieve uniformity. These frameworks need to include the management of the final product. Lastly, Government should make funding for the maintenance of public hostels available prior to hostels being redeveloped. / Public Administration / M. Tech. (Public Management)

Thesis (M Social Work (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / This research investigates the powerlessness and dependency on wine farms in the Western Cape from the viewpoint of an understanding the lived experience of farm labourers and the high incidence of habitual drinking, violence and other social phenomena. The first farm labourers in the Western Cape were Slaves. When Slavery was abolished in 1834, Cape Slaves were freed but not compensated and so remained on farms, working as labourers, and powerless and dependent. After slavery had been abolished, the relationship between landowner and labourer evolved into a paternalistic relationship where the labourer was tied to a particular farm through housing, debt ,economic impoverishment and political marginalisation. Over the last few decades constitutional and political developments have resulted in changes to labour laws and working conditions on farms. Change has filtered down to the level of labourer at different rates in different areas. By and large, while working conditions may have improved, many labourers remain dependent and powerless to become masters of their own destiny. They remain unable to break free of the legacy of Slavery. Slavery is not the only legacy that casts a shadow over farm labourers. The infamous Tot System, initiated by Jan van Riebeeck and continuing late into the twentieth century, has enslaved many labourers in a cycle of habitual drinking, social violence and poverty. Habitual drinking has become the norm on farms, a weekend ritual that few labourers manage to escape. The purpose of this research is to broaden the field of knowledge for practitioners and organisations dealing with substance abuse and other social problems on farms. One particular farm is used as a sample of farm life. The farm in question has a children’s programme (crèche and after–school). There have also been several attempts over the last five years at social development and income–generation projects aimed at empowering adults on the farm. The experience of the farm management when attempting to introduce and establish these projects has been an overwhelming sense of immobilisation and apathy from the labourers. The empirical research used a qualitative method to examine (by means of semi structured interviews and questionnaires) themes of hopelessness, dependency and powerlessness. The meaning and particular pattern of habitual drinking on farms was also explored through interviews and questionnaires. There is evidence that habitual drinking continues on wine farms, generation after generation. It has become a legitimate way of life, a ritual so entrenched, that the community cannot imagine life any other way. To not drink is to place oneself in the position of outsider, opening oneself up to ridicule, disdain and verbal abuse. Individuals who do give up drinking do so as a result of an external threat rather than a conscious choice to change the course of their lives. Furthermore, this study found that farm labourers consistently surrender responsibility for their children, their homes their behaviour, while they cling to the remnants of paternalism, avoiding at all costs becoming masters of their own destinies. This study indicates that the abolishment of the tot system has not significantly reduced the incidence of habitual excessive drinking. Whilst achieving sobriety is a key intervention in achieving social harmony, in isolation, the outlook for sustained success is poor. Working for change on wine farms is not the exclusive domain of any one role player. In any geographical area a partnership between farming communities is needed to address labourers’ needs, and gaps and overlaps in service delivery. A comprehensive plan should be formulated by all role players with the empowerment of workers as the key outcome. Concerning social and domestic violence, a zero tolerance of abuse and violence needs to be taken by farm management and implemented, making use of legislation and law enforcement agencies. Early childhood development, educational enrichment and primary health care facilities are essential services on farms and should be staffed by qualified professionals dedicated to the upliftment and empowerment of farming communities. Finally there remains a need for further research into accessible, appropriate and sustainable intervention strategies on farms that empower labourers and break the cycles of habitual excessive drinking, social violence and hopelessness on farms.

In South Africa commercial agriculture employs approximately 8.5% of the national workforce. Therefore, information about commercial farmers’ perceptions of and management responses to the HIV/AIDS pandemic are likely to be of interest to policy makers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the health sector, as well as practitioners in rural development and commercial agriculture. HIV/AIDS affects businesses such as commercial farms by decreasing productivity, increasing costs and therefore decreasing overall profitability. Farm business’ responses to the challenges posed by HIV/AIDS may advantage or disadvantage farm workers. For example, farm workers are highly vulnerable to burden-shifting activities (practices which reduce the cost of HIV/AIDS to the employer, such as the outsourcing of low-skilled jobs). However, farm businesses may also play a substantial role (e.g., by providing formal adult education or access to clinics) in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in rural commercial farming areas of KwaZulu-Natal and in South Africa generally. This study presents an analysis of KwaZulu-Natal commercial farmers’ perceptions of and management responses to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This analysis identifies the farm, business and personal characteristics of the various respondents. It is important to know this information because it assists in understanding why commercial farmers are responding as they are, which will in turn assist in future HIV/AIDS policy planning. The analysis is based on a postal census survey of Kwanalu (KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union) commercial farmer members in April and May 2007. Results suggest that, on average, Kwanalu members are highly concerned about the impact of HIV/AIDS on their businesses. A majority of respondents perceived HIV/AIDS to negatively affect the current and future profitability of farming, increase labour absenteeism and staff turnover rates, and reduce labour productivity. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the data shows that respondents’ management responses to the HIV/AIDS pandemic varied by farm size and enterprise type, but include paying higher than average wage rates to attract and retain healthy and productive workers, multi-skilling staff to provide back-up skills, and mechanisation to defer costs of HIV/AIDS. Respondents tended to believe that effective HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention programmes require an integrated approach between government, employers and employees. Two response indexes were calculated: (1) ranking by adopters only (only those who use a certain response are included) and (2) ranking by all respondents (a response is not used by a respondent automatically scores zero). The response indexes showed that resource-intensive HIV/AIDS services such as provision of antiretrovirals (ARVs) and nutritional supplements are ranked high by actual adopters, but relatively low overall (as only a small proportion of respondents are adopting these strategies) in the ranking by all respondents. Burden-shifting practices (e.g. mechanisation) are ranked relatively high in both rankings, indicating that respondents rate them as important in managing HIV/AIDS, and that many respondents are utilising them. Relatively inexpensive HIV/AIDS services (e.g. informal communication) are ranked low by actual adopters but high on the overall index as many respondents are using them (but doubt their effectiveness). A linear regression analysis was conducted on principal components from the response indexes to identify characteristics of “high” and “low” responders and of those who utilise burden shifting activities or HIV/AIDS services. The characteristics of “high” responders are that they perceive HIV/AIDS to impact on costs; they employ a high proportion of skilled labour; and they have high turnovers and high debt servicing obligations. Responders who employ large amounts of labour (particularly permanent labour); who perceive HIV/AIDS as the responsibility of the employer; who are older and more experienced; and who have a relatively high debt: asset ratio tend to use HIV/AIDS services to manage the impacts of HIV/AIDS. Many respondents already play an important but inexpensive role in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment through encouraging voluntary HIV testing and providing staff with information and transport to clinics. Policy makers should take this into consideration when formulating HIV/AIDS policies to combat the pandemic.

This research was undertaken to determine the extent to which share equity schemes have been successful. The research also investigated the possible causes of failure of the established share equity projects and sought to determine the feasibility requirements that may be put in place to ensure success and sustainability of the ventures in support of land reform. The methodology used involved comparing the data gathered from business plans, valuation reports and other project documents from the Department of Land Affairs (DLA) with the information gathered through interviews and observations. The results revealed causes of failure to include the fact that beneficiaries of the investigated equity schemes did not participate in business plan development or implementation and therefore had no sense of ownership in the intended joint ventures. It was also found that none of the business plans included any form of training for capacity building and therefore no mechanism for empowering beneficiaries existed to participate effectively at all levels of the farming enterprise. Furthermore, original farm owners as the majority shareholders tended to re-invest profits into farm assets rather than paying dividends. It was concluded that the inclusion of a training programme in every business plan is crucial to the success of farm share equity ventures as this may enable beneficiaries to be sufficiently empowered to participate effectively at all levels of the business. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

Most hostels are being redeveloped through the Hostel Redevelopment Programme from single sex accommodation to rental (family) units. The study was conducted on the City Deep and Nobuhle Hostel Redevelopment Projects as implemented in the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality (COJMM). Hostel Redevelopment Projects proved to contribute positively towards addressing the challenges and housing shortages in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province. There is a need for Government to plan other projects concurrently with the Hostel Redevelopment Projects as an attempt to deal with the displacees resulting from the Hostel Redevelopment Projects. Furthermore, there is also a need to redevelop each hostel in its totality as opposed to only a few phases of improvement. There is also a need for Government (COJMM) to design frameworks that will guide any proposed Hostel Redevelopment Project as an attempt to achieve uniformity. These frameworks need to include the management of the final product. Lastly, Government should make funding for the maintenance of public hostels available prior to hostels being redeveloped. / Public Administration and Management / M. Tech. (Public Management)