Boycott

Maritime trade unions from around the world agreed to take direct action against ships supplying oil to South Africa at a conference in London on 30–31 October 1985. The conference was sponsored by the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid and organised by the British National Union of Seamen. This badge was produced as part of the initiative.

Sticker produced by Islington Borough Council in north London asking shoppers not to buy South African goods.

In November 1985 Islington MPs Chris Smith and Jeremy Corbyn wrote to local traders asking them not to stock South African products and to find alternative sources. They encouraged local residents to boycott goods from South Africa and not to deal with companies or pension funds that invested in South Africa.

Poster produced for the campaign for a boycott of South African goods. The text reads: ‘Fruit is mostly picked by black women and children in South Africa and Namibia. 60% of canned fruit and vegetables exported by South Africa is consumed by Britain and the EEC. Watch out for fresh fruit sold under the label of CAPE and OUTSPAN.’

Poster produced for the campaign calling for a boycott of South African goods.

Poster asking shoppers in Sheffield to boycott South African goods.

These healthworkers asked Portsmouth Area Health Authority to phase out the purchase of South African and Namibian produce in January 1986. When the management refused, they refused to handle tinned food from South Africa supplied for patients’ meals. Area Health Authority van drivers and 130 other workers joined the boycott action. They were supported by the public service workers union NUPE, health workers union COHSE and transport workers union TGWU.

In 1986 the British National Union of Mineworkers and the AAM launched a new campaign to stop South African coal imports into the UK. Coal imports to Western Europe rose sharply in the mid-1980s. Coal became South Africa’s second biggest export earner after gold. 30,000 copies of this leaflet were distributed to trade unionists at May Day rallies in 1987, asking them to take action to stop the trade.