CWAO IN THE NEWS
SA strike activity dipped in 2023, but more than half were wildcat actions - report
01/05/2024
Publication: News 24
Author: Na'ilah Ebrahim
Labour action continued to decrease in 2023, with 83 worker strikes reported last year, according to the Casual Workers Advice Office (CWAO).
The number reported is nearly half that seen in 2018, where 165 different strikes were recorded, and a smaller drop from the 86 strikes in 2022.
However, the number of strikes does not include multiple demonstrations that took place at universities, hospitals, and the State Information Technology Agency (SITA).
According to CWAO's 2023 Strike Barometer, about six out of every ten strikes (51 incidents) in 2023 were wage-related, and 41 occurred in the public sector.
Other popular reasons for strikes included striking for permanent jobs and extended contracts - 20 strikes - as well as trade union-related issues, such as relating to the recognition or reinstating union officials.
However, out of the 83 strikes, only 40% were protected. CAWO noted a trend - ongoing for several years - of wildcat strikes outstripping protected ones.
The group further said 17 incidents of workplace-related action also took place, including reactions to government budget cuts and in solidarity with Palestine.
Meanwhile, according to the strike barometer, the longest strike recorded last year took place from July until November - 104 days - between the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) and the City of Tshwane. This was after the city decided not to implement salary increases for workers because of its weak financial position.
Workers held multiple strikes that led to the suspension of the Tshwane Bus Service for a month, and 120 workers were dismissed.
The matter was referred to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) in November, where both the municipality and Samwu condemned the violence and intimidation that took place during the strike and asked workers to return to their jobs. The union is still waiting for the Labour Court to rule on the city's application to be exempted from paying the increase, the report notes.
The second-longest strike was between the South African Commercial, Catering, and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu) and Makro, which lasted 76 days.
Workers went on strike from late March to early June, calling for an increase of R900 per month or 12%, whichever was greater. The eventual settlement was the greater of 4.5% or R450 for 2023, 5% or R480 for 2024, and the greater of 5%, or R500, backdated to 1 April 2022.
The current year's data is still being collected. However, so far in 2024, 26 strikes have been recorded. Contributing to the total were seven involving provincial government, six involving local government, and four in the health and education sectors respectively. Private security and transport were also affected.
The main reasons behind the strikes include: seeking permanent jobs, wage increase disputes, and unpaid wages, according to the barometer.