About Us

Founded in 1987, the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) is the largest trade union organising in municipalities, water boards and allied services. SAMWU was founded through an amalgamation of trade unions who converged to form a militant, worker controlled, non-racist and non-sexist union.

SAMWU strives to protect and advance better wages and conditions of service for workers throughout the sectors which it organises in. Membership to the Union is open to all workers employed directly and indirectly in the sectors which we organise in

The Union is an affiliate of the Congress of South African Trade Union (COSATU), the largest trade union federation in South Africa.

SAMWU represents workers in the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) and the Amanzi Bargaining Council (ABC).