Wine from South Africa: colonial origins and transnational struggles
Wine has been grown in South Africa since 1658. This viticulture was linked to European colonialism from the very beginning: European sailors drank the wine that enslaved people had to grow on plantations. Colonial continuities of racism, capitalism and patriarchy run through apartheid to the present day and still have an impact on working conditions on the plantations: For workers, this means low wages, poor occupational safety and the violation of basic labor rights. Migrant workers and women are particularly affected. Large German retailers and wine importers benefit from the low prices.
For centuries, workers on the plantations – initially enslaved, now wage laborers – have been fighting for better living and working conditions. In 2020, the South African agricultural workers of the CSAAWU union joined forces with their retail colleagues from the major retailers in Germany and are now fighting together along the global wine supply chain for a better life. This has resulted in a negotiation model that is unique in the world, in which the employees jointly exert pressure on the buyers and suppliers in negotiations with the companies. Two farm workers and a trade unionist from South Africa, as well as a trade unionist and a scientist from Germany will report on this new form of organizing along the supply chain and provide an insight into wine growing in South Africa and the state of labor disputes along supply chains.
Organizers: RTG Contradiction Studies, tie Bildungswerk e.V., DGB Bremen, Stadtteilinitiative Walle entkolonialisieren, Hafenmuseum Bremen
The event will be held in German and English (with simultaneous translation).