The Story of an African Working Class: Ghanaian Miners' Struggles 1870-1980 (African History Archive)

"This seminal work tells the story of Ghana's gold miners, one of the oldest and most militant groups of workers in Africa. It is a story of struggle against exploitative mining companies, repressive governments and authoritarian trade union leaders. Drawing on a wide range of original sources, including previously secret government and company records, Jeff Crisp explores the changing nature of life and work in the gold mines, from the colonial era into the 1980s, and examines the distinctive forms of political consciousness and organization which the miners developed. The study also provides a detailed account of the changing techniques of labour control employed by mining capital and the state, and shows how they failed to curb the workers' solidarity and tradition of militant resistance. Combining lively historical narrative with original analysis, this book remains a unique contribution to the history of Africa and its working class."-- Provided by publisher Provides A History Of Working-class Struggle In Ghana's Gold Mines And The Miners Battle Against Exploitative Mining Companies, Repressive Governments And Authoritarian Trade Union Leaders. Crisp Explores The Changing Nature Of Life And Work In The Gold Mines, From The Colonial Era Into The 1980s, And Examines The Distinctive Forms Of Political Consciousness And Organization Which The Miners Developed. The Study Also Provides A Detailed Account Of The Changing Techniques Of Labor Control Employed By Mining Capital And The State, And Shows How They Failed To Curb The Workers' Solidarity And Tradition Of Militant Resistance. --from Publisher Description. Chapter One. A Conceptual Framework For African Labor History. Labor Control And Labor Resistance -- Strategies Of Control And Modes Of Resistance -- The Structure Of Conflict In Ghana's Gold Mines -- Towards A History Of The African Working Class. Chapter Two. The Labor Question And The Contradictions Of Control, 1870-1906. The Origins Of The Labor Question, 1870-1900 -- Resistance And The Labor Question, 1870-1900 -- The Origins Of The Labor Force, 1870-1900 -- The Contradictions Of Labor Control, 1900-1906. Chapter Three. From Labor Shortage To Labor Surplus: The Recruitment And Control Of A Migrant Labor Force, 1906-1930. The Northern Territories Labor Experiment, 1906-1909 -- The Chamber Of Mines And The 'south African Solution', 1909-1912 -- Supply And Demand In The Gold Coast Labor Market, 1912-1917 -- The Post-war Labor Crisis, 1918-1920 -- Coercive Recruitment In The North, 1921-1925 -- Resistance, Migration, And Underdevelopment, 1925-1930. Chapter Four. The Growth Of Consciousness And The Organization Of Resistance, 1930-1947. Discontent And The Dynamics Of Resistance, 1930-1937 -- Responses To Resistance, 1937-1944 -- Unionization And The First General Mines Strike, 1944-1947. Chapter Five. Worker Militancy And Union Response, 1947-1956. Mining Capital And The Meu Under Pressure, 1947-1950 -- Conflict In The Workplace, 1950-1954 -- Union Militancy And The Second General Mines Strike, 1954-1956. Chapter Six. Union Atrophy And Worker Revolt: The Cpp Period, 1956-1966. The Mine Worker' Union And The Political Economy Of Independence, 1956-1960 -- The Mwu And The Political Economy Of Cpp Rule, 1961-1964 -- Party Penetration And The Destruction Of Union Authority, 1964-1966. Chapter Seven. Union Atrophy And Worker Revolt Under Military And Civilian Regimes, 1966-1980. The Revolt Against Authority, 1968-1980 -- Reform And Revolt: Mine Worker Resistance, 1971-1980. Chapter Eight. The Limits Of Militancy: Mine Worker Resistance And Political Change In Ghana. The Roots Of Mine Worker Militancy -- The Sources Of Mine Worker Solidarity -- Mine Worker Consciousness And Its Limitations -- The Mine Workers, Trade Unionism, And Political Change. Jeff Crisp ; With A New Foreword By Gavin Hilson. Originally Published: 1984. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 189-195) And Index. Front Cover About the Author Title Page Copyright Contents Foreword By Gavin Hilson Preface to the First Edition By Robin Cohen Acknowledgements Abbreviations MEU General Strike Poster, 1954 AGC Anti-Strike Leaflet, 1955–56 Map of Ghana 1. A Conceptual Framework for African Labour History Labour Control and Labour Resistance Strategies of Control and Modes of Resistance The Structure of Conflict in Ghana's Gold Mines Towards a History of the African Working Class 2. The Labour Question and the Contradictions of Control, 1870–1906 The Origins of the Labour Question, 1810–1900 Resistance and the Labour Question 1870–1900 The Origins of the Labour Force, 1870–1900 The Contradictions of Labour Control, 1900–1906 3. From Labour Shortage to Labour Surplus: The Recruitment and Control of a Migrant Labour Force, 1906–1930 The Northern Territories Labour Experiment, 1906–1909 The Chamber of Mines and the 'South African Solution', 1909–1912 Supply and Demand in the Gold Coast Labour Market, 1912–1917 The Post-War Labour Crisis, 1918–1920 Coercive Recruitment in the North, 1921–1925 Resistance, Migration, and Underdevelopment, 1925–1930 4. The Growth of Consciousness and the Organization of Resistance, 1930–1947 Discontent and the Dynamics of Resistance, 1930–1937 Responses to Resistance, 1937–1944 Unionization and the First General Mines Strike, 1944–1947 5. Worker Militancy And Union Response, 1947–1956 Mining Capital and the MHU under Pressure, 1947–1950 Conflict in the Workplace, 1950–1954 Union Militancy and the Second General Mines Strike, 1954–1956 6. Union Atrophy and worker Revolt: The CPP period, 1956–1966 The Mine Workers' Union and the Political Economy of Independence, 1956–1960 The MWU and the Political Economy of CPP Rule, 1961–1964 Party Penetration and the Destruction of Union Authority, 1964–1966 7. Union Atrophy and worker revolt under Military and civilian regimes, 1966–1980 The Revolt Against Authority, 1968–1971 Reform and Revolt: Mine Worker Resistance, 1971–1980 8. The Limits of Militancy: Mine worker Resistance and Political Change in ghana The Roots of Mine Worker Militancy The Sources of Mine Worker Solidarity Mine Worker Consciousness and its Limitations The Mine Workers, Trade Unionism, and Political Change Bibliography of Sources Cited Archives Official Publications Periodical Publications Secondary Sources Interviews Index