This Annual Industrial Action Report presents the results of strike activities from January to December 2012. Every year, the Department of Labour publishes strike activities in line with national and international standards. One of the main findings in the report is the significant increase in the number of strikes in 2012 as compared to the previous four years.
A total of 99 strike incidents were recorded in 2012 as compared to 67 in 2011, 74 in 2010, 51 in 2009 and 57 in 2008. Working days lost were during 2012 amounted to 3.3 million (3 309 884) in 2012 (involving 241 391 employees) as compared to 2.8 million (2 806 656) in 2011 (involving 203 138 employees). In terms of wages lost, R6.6 billion was lost in wages of striking workers during 2012.
Furthermore, 44% of the strikes recorded in 2012 were unprotected. Key features of industrial action during 2012 include the following:
- 57.5% of workers involved in strike action during 2012 were from the mining sector where a strike wave was experienced;
- Median wage settlement rate during 2012 as reported by Labour Research Services varied between 6.9% and 10%;
- Working days lost by industry were most prominent in mining (82.4%), followed by manufacturing (5.7%), community (4.1%) and agriculture (3.7%) during 2012;
- Wages, bonus and other compensation still remain the main reasons for work stoppages in South Africa;
- In 2012, most workers who were involved in the labour unrest were members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM);
- According to the report Gauteng, continues to account for the largest number of work stoppages. Gauteng experienced 42 strikes in 2012, up from the 33 in 2011.
This presents an increase of 27.3% from 2011. The COSATU stay-away and protest march in Gauteng against the implementation of the e-tolling had a major impact on the province although this was not a strike, but a protest action. The Northern Cape, one of the smallest provinces in relation to economic output, continues to record fewer strikes than other provinces.
A feature of industrial action during 2012 was the heightened violence that accompanied strike action, particularly in the mining and transport sectors. The violence and damage to property that was evident in the agricultural sector should also be noted, although these were protest actions and not strictly strike action.
In light of the violence associated with strikes, the Minister of Labour, in a media statement released during November 2012, stressed that;
“Let me take this opportunity first and foremost and condemn violence in any industrial action. Violence has no place in our society whose foundation as democracy is based on intensive social dialogue. Nothing yet has proven to work better than the ability to negotiate and reach consensus…”
The department, together with other government departments, participated in a number of initiatives to restore peace and stability in the mining sector during and following the events in Marikana in August 2012. The most recent of these initiatives was the Deputy-President’s Stability Framework Agreement agreed to by organised business, organised labour and government in July 2013.
While the Department of Labour will continue to monitor and report on industrial action, it will also continue to work with the social partners to minimise un-procedural action and to counter violence associated with strike action.
Enquiries:
Page Boikanyo
Cell: 082 809 3195
