About the Labour Research Service (LRS) Archive

The Labour Research Service (LRS), situated in Cape Town, South Africa, is a membership-based labour support organisation established in South Africa in 1986. It conducts research, provides information, and facilitates participatory education and capacity development to strengthen trade unions and worker organisations. The LRS operates with a dedication to enhancing the collective bargaining power of workers and advancing their full participation in socio-economic and political life.

This digital archive presents key documents, research outputs, databases, reports, and other archival records that support worker education, informed collective bargaining, and evidence-based advocacy in the workplace.

More information about the LRS is available on their homepage

Archival Integrity and Historical Context

Materials on this site are presented as accurate reproductions of the original records. In line with archival best practice, titles, descriptions, and terminology have been retained in their original form to preserve the historical and evidentiary context of the materials. This non-intervention approach ensures the integrity of the archive and supports rigorous research, reflection, and critical engagement.

Users should understand that the records reflect the conditions, language, and institutional norms of the time in which they were created.

Scope and Mission of the Archive

The LRS archive supports the organisation’s broader mission to:

• Provide accessible research and information that strengthens trade union strategy and worker representation.
• Enable collective bargaining and organising support by documenting trends, agreements, and policy developments.
• Cultivate leadership and organisational capacity in unions and labour-focused social movements across sectors.
• Advance gender equality and inclusivity in labour processes, workplace negotiations, and social discourse.

The archive serves as a resource for researchers, union leaders, activists, educators, and students interested in labour history, policy, socio-economic justice, and workers’ rights.

Content Advisory

Users are advised that archival materials may contain content, including language, representations, or ideologies, that reflects past norms and workplace contexts outdated or offensive by contemporary standards. These materials are presented for research, education, and documentation purposes. Reader discretion and critical engagement are advised.

Intellectual Property and Access

While many resources in this digital archive are made available to support research and worker education, some items may remain subject to copyright or licensing terms. The use of such materials beyond private study or academic research may require formal permission from the rights holders.

Users agree to respect applicable copyright, attribution, and usage guidelines when accessing and re-using archival content.

Contributions and Engagement

The LRS welcomes feedback on the archive and inquiries regarding contributions of historical records, research outputs, or documentation related to trade unions or labour movements. All contributions are reviewed in accordance with the organisation’s collection development practices and in alignment with its mission to support labour empowerment, collective action, and social justice.