South African Industrial Federation


The South African Industrial Federation was established in 1914 as an amalgamation of the Industrial Federations in the provinces of South Africa.
The Federation attracted most of the trades unions in the country. It had a policy of support for white labour, believing that employers had a policy of using black labour to drive down wages. The Cape Federation of Labour Unions which represented many coloured workers refused to do so.
It was led by Archie Crawford. Membership reached 60,000.
It was active in the Rand Rebellion in 1922.
It collapsed in 1925 and was replaced by the South African Trades Union Council.