Abstract
As many sociology of work scholars are probably aware, Eddie Webster passed away in early March. This obituary serves as a tribute to his contribution as an academic of international standing, as well as a note of thanks from the WES journal for many years of support from Eddie on our International Advisory Board.
Professor Edward Charles Webster, affectionately known as Eddie, passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack at the age of 81. Despite his age, he remained active, exemplified by his leadership of an eight-hour hike in the Amatole Mountains near Hogsback for his 80th birthday celebrations. Eddie’s vitality extended beyond physical activity; he maintained a presence on Twitter under the handle ‘Sociology Madala’ and continued his academic pursuits, recently publishing a book titled Recasting Workers’ Power: Work and Inequality in the Shadow of the Digital Age.
Eddie’s influence transcended national borders, with tributes pouring in from scholars and organisations worldwide, illustrating his impact on academia and activism. As an activist academic, his central insight was the importance of collective action in challenging oppression and exploitation. He advocated for democratic trade unions as vehicles for social change and played a pivotal role in establishing publications and educational initiatives supportive of the labour movement.
His seminal work, Cast in a Racial Mould, published in 1985, analysed the intersection of race and class in South Africa’s engineering industry, illuminating the emergence of militant Black trade unions. This analysis laid the foundation for what Eddie termed ‘social movement unionism’, exemplified by the successes of the South African labour movement during the 1980s, particularly through organisations like COSATU.
Eddie’s contributions extended beyond South Africa. He played a key role in establishing the Global Labour University and the Global Labour Journal, fostering international collaboration and dialogue on labour issues. His research examined the impact of globalisation and technological change on workers, offering insights into organising strategies for the gig economy.
Rooted in his upbringing in the Eastern Cape and shaped by his parents’ commitment to social justice, Eddie’s dedication to building institutions and empowering individuals was evident throughout his life. His role as a teacher was paramount, inspiring generations of students with his passion for ideas and commitment to social change. He established internship programmes and research initiatives, providing opportunities for students to engage in meaningful work.
Eddie’s legacy extends beyond his academic achievements. His partnership with historian Luli Callinicos and his devotion to family and friends exemplified his deep love for life. His indomitable spirit, insatiable curiosity and commitment to critical engagement continue to inspire scholars and activists around the world.
As we reflect on Eddie’s legacy, we recognise his profound impact on labour studies, activism and academia. His work serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for those dedicated to advancing social justice and empowering marginalised communities.
At this point I would like to add something of my own experience of Eddie and highlight what will always be my most abiding memory of the man. Around 15 years ago, I organised a mini conference in Port Elizabeth (or Gqeberha as it is now) focused on Job Creation and Employability, and I invited Eddie as one of the keynote speakers. The first thing that stood out about Eddie was his exceptional ability as a communicator. All the other academics had turned up with their PowerPoint slides and methodically went through them point by point. By contrast, Eddie sat there with a marker pen and a flip chart and, despite only writing about three words on that chart, spoke with clarity and authority for 30 minutes followed by another 30 minutes of questions from the floor. The audience was made up of a combination of academics, community activists, local politicians and local municipality employees and he was able to both present his thoughts and respond to questions in a fashion that was accessible to everyone. The upshot was that the entire audience was enthralled for the whole hour.
The second striking thing about Eddie was his pragmatism; he displayed very little interest in apportioning blame or unpicking what had led to the current situation. His view always appeared to be, we are where we are, but how can we make things better? At the time of the conference a big discussion issue was the Coega, a deep-water port that had been commissioned by the ANC government and completed a few years prior. Phrases that stick in my mind from that debate were, ‘biggest infrastructure project in Africa for half a century’ and ‘4 billion US dollars’ as well as ‘white elephant’. Most of the other academics focused on critiquing the decision to build, the decision-making process, the construction process as well as the impact of the port. One academic had decomposed the jobs claimed to be created by the project, and once the jobs in the construction phase as well as jobs that had relocated from elsewhere in the country were subtracted, less than 100 new jobs had been created. Clearly not a great return on 4 billion US dollars. However, in Eddie’s presentation, the focus was very much on the fact that the port had already been built, it was not going away, so what could be done to utilise it better and achieve a greater impact. Interestingly, most of the things that Eddie was proposing on that day to make more effective use of the Coega have gradually been adopted in the intervening years as the port’s impact and performance have improved.
In recent times, the WES journal has initiated a Working Classics series, where outstanding scholars within the field of the sociology of work are commissioned to write a piece of extended scholarship. Eddie had been approached to produce the first article in this series and was in the process of developing an article titled, ‘From racial despotism to digital taylorism: Revisiting a century of debate on scientific management in South Africa’. It is a great pity that we will not now be able to publish the completed work.
So, in conclusion, rest in peace Eddie with respect and gratitude from everybody at the Work, Employment and Society journal.