This study examines labour relations in Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987, and
finds that the government had a major impact on reforming labour relations.
This interpretation differs from accounts presented in literature. Most writers
assume employers are exploitative, and depict the government as acting on
behalf of capital to control workers and ensure peaceful capitalist
accumulation. It is argued that this view is one-sided, and a more balanced
view of labour relations is provided by examining national labour policy and
labour relations in three prominent organisations. This account suggests
that government labour policy was to promote workers' interests while taking
into consideration the need for national economic growth to enable
employment and welfare services to be expanded. In an effort to balance
workers' and national interests, the government pursued a corporatist
strategy which involved the monopolisation of trade union representation,
and control over unions to enforce government labour policy. A
disaggregated view of "capital" is required which recognises that different
management or organisational cultures exist. Thus, while some employers
in Zimbabwe are exploitative and maintain racist management practices,
others have gradually reformed their labour practices and have advanced
black employees. In some cases this reform process has proceeded quite
rapidly. The government's policies to protect and promote workers' interests
provided the major stimulus for this reform of labour relations within
enterprises
