text: -17-procedures. JjlTheeffeots oftheprovisions oftheActarealready evident 1n theincrease inthenumberofemployers' claimsford~ages arising f~omstrikes andinthefrequent lock-outs andmassdismissals ofworkers following strikes.!il 66.Thecontinued deterioration ofworking conditions wasallothefocusofaction against. employers. Inachallenge totheChamber ofMines,theN.ltional Unionof Mineworkers (NUM)released asurveyinJanuary 1;89indicating that,sincethe1987 mineworkers' strike, theAnglo-American Corporation had"embarked onasystematic campaign ofretarding theunionandintimidating unionmembers". 151 ~ccording to thesurvey, racismandjobreservation remainacentral experienoe ofthe corporation's blackemployees. Thesurveynotedthattheexperiences ofblack workers inAnglo-Ameri~an's minesareinmarkedcontrast withinternationally ac~epted collective bargaining practices suchastheILOConventions and Recommendations. NUMcalledupontheCh~ber ofMinesanditsaffiliated companies todismantle themigrant laboursystemthatgivesrisetoinstitutionaliz9d violence. 67.Despite gainsmadebynon-racial tradeunions a~collective bargaining, Africans stillearnthelowestaverage monthly income, asshownbytheofficially released figures presented intable1below. ~I Table1.Average monthly earnings (inrand)._ .._--._--_. Year Africans Coloureds Asians Whites 1985 423 552 765 1531 1986 500 634 912 1732 1987 593 737 1060 1959 1988AI 653 796 1136 2123------ AIFirsttwoquarters of1988. 68.Byfarthemostimportant demands precipitating strikes wereimproved wages andworking conditions. In1988,therewere1,025strikes, rBsu1tin~ intheloss of914,388 work-days. Anestimated 161,534 blackworkers, asopposed to145whitfl workers, participated instrikes.illAseriesofwild-cat strikes, stoppages, go-s'ows, demonstrations andove~time bans-largely connocted withtheLabour Relations Amendment Act ~affected chemetalindustry, inparticular, aswellas themining,retail, energyandfoodindustry. 69.AtitsthirdNational Congress, heldfrom12to16July1989,COSATUresolved tointensify discussions withintheMassDemocratic Movttment cuncerning 8 democratic constitutional modelforanewSouthAfrica. TheFederation 81so8dded 8clausetoits1987policyviS-A-vis disinvestment, stating that t~ewithdrawing transnational corporations mustnegotiate withtherelevant tradeunionsonall 8spects ofthedisinvestment procedure. Italsoreaffirmed itsdecision to campaign withNACTUandotherunionsagainst theActandvtherrepressive lawsand reneweditscommitment tobuilding theNational UnionoftheUnemployed. -18-4.Actions byre1i9ious, youthendst~dent 9'oups 70.Theroleof~eligiouB organizations andindividuals within andoutside South Africabecameevenmoreprominent intheopartheid opposition asaresult oCthe banning andrestriction ordersthatcurtailed severely theactivities ofothel' apartheid opponents. InSouthAfrica, theactivities ofreligious organizations andindividuals focused oncallsonPretoria tocreatethepropitious conditions 1~rapeaceful resolution oftheconflict inthAc~untry. Attheinternational level,theiractions weredirected atSouthAfrica'S majortrading partners. South African religious leaders called uponthoseGovernments toexerteconomic press~re ontheregimetopersuade ittoabolish Dpartbel~. 71.InSeptember 1988,SACCdecided todefyanylaws ent~enr.hing residential segregation andtocondemn theLabourRelations Amendment Actasaninstrument of racism. Inthesamemonth, ArchbishOp Desmond TutuandtheReverend AllanBoesak calledforaboycott ofthe26October 1988municipal elections. ASACCdelegation andANCofficials heldtalksatHarareinNovember onthepolitical prospects for SouthAfrica andtheregion. InFebruary 1989,religious leaders played Dcrucial roleinnegotiating therelease ofhundreds ofpolitical detainees following a successful h"ngerstrike. 72.InApril ~~89,Anglican Churchleade. meeting atCapeTowncalledforthe banning ofSouthAfrica frominternational airroutes. Arguing thatintense
analysis: The text primarily focuses on the struggles and challenges faced by workers, trade unions, and religious organizations in South Africa during the late 1980s, particularly in the context of the apartheid regime. It highlights issues such as wage disputes, labor laws, and racial discrimination, which are all related to employment and economic development. The text also touches on international pressure and responses to the apartheid regime, which could be linked to international trade and humanitarian aid.