The History of NASA Workers
NASA-Workers was founded on 12th July 2018 at the University of South Africa (UNISA) in response to the struggle for the insourcing of vulnerable workers, such as cleaners, security personnel, gardeners, and waste management workers employed by labour brokers. The union emerged as a result of workers’ dissatisfaction with the existing recognised unions, which failed to address their concerns.
The founding General Secretary, Mpho Moses Morolane, led the struggle for insourcing with other young activists , resulting in the permanent employment of workers previously on fixed-term contracts with labour brokers at UNISA.
The union was registered on 14th June 2019 with seven sectors: institutions of research, institutions of learning, cleaning, security, hospitality, fast-moving consumer goods, and recycling and steel.
On 3rd September 2022, during its second congress, NASA-Workers expanded its scope to 42 sectors, including mining, engineering, farming, public sector, and motor and metal industries.
NASA-Workers secured a monumental victory role obtaining organizational rights at UNISA, including winning a case in 2019 that led to the permanent employment of 90 workers in the institution.
In 2022, NASA-Workers launched a massive recruitment drive at its founding branch UNISA, increasing its membership from 500 to 1300 members, and made submissions to the Independent Assessor, Professor Mosia, to investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration at UNISA. NASA-Workers was instrumental in exposing the Khuli Report, which implicated senior management in corruption and nepotism.
NASA-Workers has been actively involved in representing workers during large-scale retrenchments at companies such as Barloworld, CSIR, and Singisi Forest Products. This advocacy has attracted many workers to join the union, as they view NASA-Workers as an organization that protects their gains and ensures job security, particularly during retrenchments.
NASA-Workers has continued its militant approach, participating in major strikes at companies such as Bidvest Steiner and Rhodes Food Group. These strikes, with over 300 workers participating each, resulted in significant victories for workers, including wage negotiations and improved working conditions.
