Local AA groups

This leaflet was produced as part of a citywide London campaign to persuade Sainsbury’s to stop stocking South African goods. The London AA Committee set up a special boycott group which met Sainsbury’s directors to put the case for a boycott. Sainsbury’s claimed to have reduced their South African products to less than 1 per cent of total sales.

Many local AA groups formed links with trade union branches. In 1986 Brent AA group circulated this leaflet to local unions asking them to affiliate and asking trade unionists to join as individual members.

Leeds Women Against Apartheid was formed in 1986 to bring together women in support of their sisters in South Africa and Namibia. The group reached out to women’s organisations in West Yorkshire, raising funds for women in Southern Africa, boycotting apartheid goods and holding day schools publicising the situation of women under apartheid. It was linked to a women’s group in Soshunguve township, near Pretoria.  This leaflet advertised a meeting held in Leeds Civic Hall in July 1986.

Like many of the larger local AA groups, Aberdeen AA group published an annual report of its activities for local members.

Bristol City Council’s decision in 1986 to stop imports of South African coal through the Port of Bristol was opposed by some trade unionists who feared job losses in the docks. In this newsletter Bristol AA Group argued that trade union concerns should be taken into account. It suggested that the Port’s management should seek alternative imports and that steps should be taken to ensure South African goods were not diverted to other ports.

Hounslow AA Group distributed regular newsletters reporting on its activities and AAM campaigns. The October 1986 issue highlighted the campaign to stop executions of South African political prisoners and South Africa’s attacks against the frontline states. It advertised the group’s fortnightly pickets of a local supermarket and asked for support in making Hounslow an apartheid-free zone. 

AAM supporters in Oldham, Greater Manchester, call for sanctions against South Africa in 1986. At the head of the march is the Oldham AA Group banner.

 

 

Banner produced by the local AA Group in Oldham, Greater Manchester. Oldham AAM members campaigned for local support for a boycott of South African goods and for support for the ANC and SWAPO.