Common use of Ibid Clause in Contracts

Ibid. 65 See for instance Sithole and Xxxxxx (2006); Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxx (2006); Xxxxxx, (1991) and Xxxxxxx, (1988). Women challenging gender specific issues in the workplace The significant increase of women in paid labour during the 1970s and early 1980s was vital in terms of garnering support and raising awareness of the injustices they suffered as a group. Their concentration in certain industries (such as retail or food and processing) and workplaces was important in creating suitable conditions for women to identify their experiences as a group. Women, who took up union leadership positions and challenged gender specific issues, often came from sectors or workplaces that were dominantly female. Examples include Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx. Before launching CCAWUSA in 1975, Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx first became a worker representative in the textile factory where she worked66 and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx was also a worker representative at the Biscuit Factory where she worked before becoming the General Secretary of Sweet Food and Allied Workers Union.67 The presence of women in the labour movement in the early 1970s shaped labour struggles within the South African workplace, giving it a different dimension. The discrimination of women on the basis of gender in the workplace brought up new challenges for the labour movement. As part of the working class, women challenged the unions as well as management in addressing their particular interests as a group. Some of the most important issues that women raised included demands for equal wages, access to training opportunities and demands for maternity leave and childcare. Demands for ‘equal pay for work of equal value’ In challenging discriminatory practices in wages, women made a call for ‘equal pay for work of equal value’ (Xxxxxx, 1991). For instance, in 1981, textile workers (the National Union of Textile Workers (NUTW))68 reached an agreement with South African Fabrics to close the wage gap between women and men workers in the industry.69 In another incident, in 1984 CWIU women in Elandsfontein challenged management’s practices of placing women in the ‘bottom grade’ with the lowest pay.70 Women, who composed half of the workforce, were placed in this grade, while men were in different grades that paid higher wages.71 After pressure from women who raised the issue with the 66 See Mashinini (1989:18). 67 FOSATU Worker News (undated).