Work Before Politics

At least three states and more than 20 cities across the U.S.

have passed laws that ban or restrict the investment of public funds in corporations that do business with South Africa. But a new survey conducted among black production workers in eight South African industrial areas suggests that the campaign is opposed by those it is meant to help. The study, financed by the U.S. State Department, shows that, despite a growing sense of political anger, black workers overwhelmingly reject the withdrawal of U.S. capital as a way to force change in South Africa's official policy of racial separation.

According to the survey, conducted by Professor Lawrence Schlemmer of the University of Natal, 75% of the 551 workers questioned said they disagreed with a strategy of disinvestment and 41% said that such a policy would harm blacks. According to Schlemmer, blacks "do not wish to see their work opportunities destabilized by political action." Concludes Schlemmer: "South Africa is a labor-surplus economy, and those who have jobs are aware that they are privileged. They may want to throw the political bath water out, but they don't want to throw the baby out with it."