The Ethiopian Labour Movement

“Admasie brings to life the first authoritative history of the Ethiopian labour movement over 60 tumultuous years of change and transformation. This original and unique book chronicles the remarkable endurance of labour militancy in Ethiopia over the pulsation of unfathomable societal and economic rupture and change. A commanding account, essential for comprehending the trajectory of working-class mobilization under capitalisms in Ethiopia, Africa, and the world. An indispensable work.” —Immanuel Ness, Professor of Political Science, City University of New York “This is an invaluable contribution. It is comprehensive to a fault. I doubt if anyone can add anything to the subject of any significance. The author’s refusal to allow the tale of the labour movement to be subsumed to other narratives lends the story freshness, and the emphasis on the radical flame of the movement that keeps flickering like a candle in a storm, regardless of what others, natives and foreigners, are doing, will help keep this flame alive. The fact that this radicalism has produced real gains for workers – which the author proves – reinforces that point.” —John Markakis, Professor of African Studies, University of Crete This book offers a comprehensive history of the Ethiopian labour movement, exploring the impact of trade unions and workers’ militancy from the 1960s onwards. The author analyses the sharp variation in the orientation and vicissitudes of the labour movement over time, and how these have affected labour conditions and wages. Drawing from new data gathered through extensive archival research in Ethiopia and abroad, this book is the first of its kind. It presents new datasets on strikes, unrest and wage levels, shedding light on how capitalist labour and industrial relations have developed in Ethiopia. Addressing a huge gap in the literature on African labour movements, this book makes a significant contribution to debates on trade unionism, workers’ agency and wage determination in peripheral capitalist settings, and challenges existing assumptions through detailed investigation. Samuel Andreas Admasie is a regional specialist for Africa at the International Institute of Social History and an affiliate researcher at the Labour Movement's Archives and Library.