History



Sactwu is one of the Cosatu affiliated unions. We are the largest trade union in the clothing, textile, leather and footwear industry in South Africa and globally, and we have a growing presence in other parts of the economy such as distribution, agriculture and food processing. The union has over 110 000 members nationally.

Sactwu was founded in September 1989, the result of a merger between key garment, textile and leather sector trade unions. The roots of the union go back over 100 years. We have trade union density of just over 88%, in our traditional sectors. This allows Sactwu to represent its members more effectively. We negotiate wages and terms of conditions of employment, participate in the development of sectoral and national policies, offer a range of benefits, and fight for the rights and jobs of our members

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Membership


In the face of serious threats to the collective power of workers, it is vital that trade unions remain strong, large and representative.

SACTWU membership is open to workers in a number of sectors including in the following:

  • clothing
  • textiles
  • wool,mohair, hides and skins
  • leather and footwear
  • tanning, woolpulling and fellmongering
  • canvas and ropeworking
  • laundry, dyeing and dry-cleaning
  • distribution, agriculture and food processing
  • furniture and other sectors
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Media Releases

September 1, 2022

SACTWU settles Clothing Sector wage dispute

Date: 1 September 2022 Media Release: Immediate SACTWU settles Clothing Sector wage dispute The COSATU-affiliated Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) has settled its […]
June 7, 2022

SACTWU welcomes Supreme Court of Appeal judgment on suspected under-invoiced clothing seized by SARS

Date: 7 June 2022 Media release: immediate SACTWU welcomes Supreme Court of Appeal judgment on suspected under-invoiced clothing seized by SARS The COSATU-affiliated Southern African Clothing […]
November 26, 2021

SACTWU welcomes increased vaccination rate in clothing industry

Date: 26 November 2021 Media release: immediate SACTWU welcomes increased vaccination rate in clothing industry The COSATU-affiliated Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union welcomes reports […]

United together, let’s build SACTWU, our industry, our country, our continent

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