NN 03/2026
VERSKEIE VORME VAN ARBEIDSAKSIE
Die SAOU het berig dat daar gesamentlike arbeidsaksie deur die verskillende vakbonde oorweeg word. Dit is belangrik dat SAOU-lede ingelig is oor wat die verskillende vorme van arbeidsaksie kan aanneem.
Die Arbeidswet maak daarvoor voorsiening dat werknemers hulle arbeid kan weerhou, as daar sake is waarvoor daar nie ‘n gemeenskaplike oplossing gevind kan word nie.
Die mees algemene vorm van arbeidsaksie is ‘n staking. Dit is die weiering van die werknemer om enige werk te verrig, om werk stadiger te doen of om obstruktief op te tree sodat geen werk verrig kan word nie.
Stakings vind plaas wanneer daar ‘n dispuut ontstaan tussen die werkgewer en werknemer oor die werksomstandighede van die werknemer: dit kan wees oor vergoeding, werksure, verbetering van werksomstandighede of gemeenskaplike belang.
Die proses vir enige van hierdie aksies is dat ‘n dispuut in die werkplek na die CCMA of die Onderhandelingskamer (RAVO) verwys moet word. As daar nie ‘n oplossing gevind kan word nie, word daar ‘n Sertifikaat van Uitkomste uitgereik wat dit dan ‘n wettige staking maak, waartydens werknemers beskerm word. (Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 (LRA).
‘n BESKERMDE STAKING het die volgende implikasies:
- Werknemers mag nie ontslaan word wanneer hulle aan die staking deelneem nie.
- As jy egter tydens die staking skade aan die eiendom van die werkgewer aanrig, skade aan ‘n ander persoon of aan die eiendom van ‘n ander persoon aanrig, kan jy ontslaan word
- Jy kan vir operasionele redes afgelê word, as gevolg van die staking
- As jy ‘n kriminele oortreding tydens die staking uitvoer, mag jy gearresteer en vervolg word
- Die reël: “No work – no pay” is van pas. Maar bydraes aan pensioen en mediese fonds kan nie gestaak word vir die periode van ‘n staking nie.
Daar word tussen 4 soorte stakings onderskei:
- ‘n Primêre staking (werknemers hou op om ‘n diens te lewer, omdat hulle ‘n direkte materiële belang by ‘n spesifieke dispuut het)
- ‘n Sekondêre staking (dit word ook ‘n simpatie staking genoem, omdat werknemers tot aksie toetree in ondersteuning van ‘n ander groep werkers wat teen hulle werknemer optree, alhoewel hulle nie by die primêre dispuut betrokke is nie)
- Politiese / Sosio-ekonomiese staking (werknemers staak dienslewering vir politiese of sosio-ekonomiese redes wat aan die werksomstandighede gekoppel kan word). ‘n Voorbeeld hiervan sou wees as daar enige aksie teen ‘n entiteit soos GEMS geneem word.
Die werkgewer het die opsie om ‘n uitsluiting (lock out) in te stel. Dit is die weiering van die werkgewer om werknemers toegang tot die werkplek te bied. Dit beteken dat die werknemers nie hulle dienste kan aanbied nie en kan daarom ook nie betaal word nie.
Metodes vir staking is die volgende:
- Openbare byeenkomste
'n Openbare byeenkoms is die saamtrek van ʼn groep persone wat vir ʼn gesamentlike doel byeenkom. Die doel hiervan is om uitdrukking aan politiese of sosio-ekonomiese kwessies te gee.
Dit mag ʼn opmars insluit, dit sal gewoonlik die oorhandiging van ʼn memorandum insluit. Plakkate met die uitroepe van die persone wat geraak word, sal gebruik word.
Dit word deur wetgewing gereguleer en lede word steeds in hierdie proses beskerm.
- Wegbly-aksies (stay-away) werknemers daag net nie vir werk op nie. In onderwys beteken dit dat onderwysers wat deur die Staat aangestel is, nie by die skool opdaag nie. Die negatiewe aspek hiervan is dat onderwysers wat deur die Beheerliggaam aangestel is, moontlik steeds moet opdaag – in so ‘n geval sou ‘n simpatie-staking uitgeroep kon word.
- Demonstrasie of optogte (picketing) – dit is ‘n demonstrasie waar die werknemers aandui wat die redes vir hierdie optog is deur die gebruik van plakkate en slagspreuke.
- Sloerstaking (go slow) – dit is ‘n vorm van arbeidsaksie waar werknemers steeds by die werk opdaag, maar alles net stadiger doen om op so ‘n wyse die werkgewer te frustreer:
- In onderwys is daar ook aksies soos “chalk-down” – die implikasie is dat jy in jou klas is, agter jou lessenaar sit en net nie onderrig nie, die toesig en dissipline in jou klas is steeds jou verantwoordelikheid.
- Stilsit –“sit-in” of “sit-down” dit is ‘n staking waar onderwysers in die personeelkamer sit, jy is nie verantwoordelik vir die sorg van leerders soos wat jy in jou klaskamer sou hê nie, jy is by die skool, maar jy lewer glad nie ‘n diens nie.
- Work-to-rule: in hierdie vorm van staking doen jy net wat jou kontrak vereis dat jy doen, en niks ekstra nie. Dit beteken in onderwys dat jy steeds skool hou, maar dat jy byvoorbeeld nie in die namiddag, naweke of vakansies opleiding bywoon nie, jy woon nie departementele vergaderings by nie en sloer om die werkgewer te frustreer.
WAT STAAN MY TE DOEN?
- Lede van ander unies by my skool staak, maar ek wil voortgaan met my werk?
In hierdie geval is dit nodig dat jy steeds by die skool aanmeld en seker maak dat jy die daaglikse bywoningsregister teken. Meld dit ook by jou Provinsiale Sekretaris aan. Verseker dat jy die perseel nie sonder toestemming verlaat nie. - Daar is ‘n staking by my skool, ek kan nie toegang tot die perseel verkry nie, of ek word geïntimideer om nie te werk nie
In hierdie geval is dit nodig om so gou moontlik by jou naaste Distrikskantoor of Polisiestasie aan te meld. Daar sal ‘n bywoningsregister wees wat jy kan onderteken. Daar sal moontlik van jou verwag word om vir die duur van die skooldag by die kantore aanwesig te wees.
In ‘n geval waar jy in jou persoon bedreig of geïntimideer voel, sou dit sinvol wees om dit by die polisie aan te meld. In die geval van skade aan jou of aan jou besittings sal dit goed wees om dit ook aan te meld.
Na afloop van die staking is dit nodig om jou betaalstrokies deeglik na te gaan om seker te maak dat daar nie bedrae van jou salaris afgetrek is nie. Skakel met jou Provinsiale Sekretaris. - Ouers het die skool gesluit en ek kan nie toegang tot die skool kry nie
Dit is ‘n vorm van uitsluiting (lock-out). In hierdie geval het jy die intensie om jou dienste aan te bied, maar word daarvan verhinder. Meld by die naaste Distrikskantoor of Polisiestasie aan. - As Beheerliggaam aanstellings wil ons in simpatie saam met die staatsdiens onderwysers staak
Die werkgewer van Beheerliggaamslede is die SBL en daar moet die nodige reëlings getref word, sodat dit nie as ‘n onwettige staking gesien word nie. Skakel met jou Provinsiale Sekretaris.
Die SAOU fokus daarop om jou regte te beskerm en dit sluit ‘n veilige en billike werksomgewing in. Stakings is die laaste uitweg nadat alle ander moontlikhede ondersoek is en daar nie ‘n bevredigende oplossing gevind kan word nie.
2026/02/12
VARIOUS FORMS OF LABOUR ACTION
The SAOU recently reported that joint labour action is being considered by the various unions. It is important that SAOU members are well informed on the various forms of labour action.
Labour law provides employees the opportunity to withhold their labour, if there are issues which cannot be amicably resolved.
The most common form of labour action is a strike. This implies that the employee refuse to perform any work, to work slower or to act obstructively so that no work can be performed.
Strikes take place when a dispute develops between the employer and employee, over the working conditions of the employee: this can include disputes on compensation, working hours, improvement of working conditions of common cause.
The process of any of these actions is that a dispute is referred to the CCMA or the Bargaining Chamber (ELRC). If no solution can be reached, a Certificate of Outcome is issued, which allows for a protected strike, which protects the rights of employees. Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 (LRA).
A PROTECTED STRIKE has the following implications:
- Employees may not be dismissed when they participate in the strike.
- Should you participate in the strike and any damage is done to the property of the employer, any damage to another person or the property of another person, you could be dismissed
- You could be dismissed based on operational reasons
- If you commit any criminal act during the strike, you may be arrested and prosecuted
- The rule: “No work – no pay” will be applied. But contributions to the pension fund and medical aid scheme cannot be withheld for the duration of the strike.
Four types of strikes can be distinguished:
- A Primary strike (employers no longer provide a service, because they have a direct material concern with a specific dispute)
- A secondary strike (this is also known as a sympathy strike, because employees partake in action in support of a group of workers who are taking action against their employer, although they are not directly involved in the primary dispute)
- Political / Socio-economic strike (employees stop service delivery for political or socio-economic reasons, which are linked to the working conditions) An example of this type of strike would be if any action were to be taken against an entity like GEMS.
The employer could institute the option of a lock out. This refers to the employer who withholds the access of the employees to the workplace. This implies that the employee cannot offer their services, and therefore cannot be paid.
Methods of strikes are the following:
- Public Gatherings
A Public Gathering is the assembly of a group of people who are assembling for a common purpose. The goal thereof is to express issues of either political or socio-economic nature.
It can take the form of a march, it will normally end with the handing over of a memorandum. Posters with slogans will often be used.
It is regulated by legislation and members are protected during the public gathering.
- Stay-aways
– employees do not show up for work. In education it implies that educators appointed by the State, do not show up at school. The negative aspect is that teachers appointed by the Governing Body, will still have to teach, unless a sympathy strike is implemented.
- Demonstrations or picketing – this is a demonstration where the employees indicate the reasons for the strike through posters and slogans.
- Go slow – this is a form of labour action where employees still show up to work, but all work is done at a very slow pace as to frustrate the employer:
- In education, this could include actions such as “chalk down” which means that while you are in your class, you sit behind your desk, but you do not teach, but acts of supervision and discipline in your class is still your responsibility.
- Sit in or sit down – this implies that all teachers stay in the staff room, and educators accept no responsibility for the care of learners in the classroom; you are at school, but you deliver no service.
- Work-to-rule: in this form of strike you only do what your contract requires, but no extra activities. This implies that you teach, but no extramural activities are performed in the afternoon, over weekends or holidays, you do not attend any departmental meetings and perform a slow strike to frustrate the employer
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
- Members of another union at my school strike, but I want to continue with my work?
In this instance it is necessary that you still report to your school and ensure that you sign the daily attendance register. Also report to your Provincial Secretary. Ensure that you do not leave the premises without permission. - There is a strike at my school, I cannot access the premises or I am being intimidated or threatened not to work
In this instance it is necessary to report as soon as possible to your nearest District Office or Police station. There should be an attendance register which you can sign. It could be expected of you to stay for the duration of the school day at these offices.
In the case where you feel threatened or intimidated, it would be advisable to report to your nearest police station. In the case where your personal possessions are damaged, this should also be reported.
After the completion of the strike it is necessary to review your pay slips thoroughly to ensure that your salary was not deducted due to the strike. Contact your Provincial Secretary. - Parents have locked the school and I cannot enter the premises
This is a form of lock-out. In this case you have clearly indicated the intention to offer your services, but you are being prohibited. Report to the closest District Office or Police Station. - As Governing Body employees, we would like to strike in support of our government appointed colleagues
The employer of Governing Body employees is the School Governing Body and the necessary arrangements must be made with the SGB, so that this will not be seen as an unprotected strike. Contact your Provincial Secretary for the necessary information.
The SAOU focuses on the protection of your rights which includes a safe and fair working environment. Strikes are the last resort, after all other possibilities were considered and no satisfactory solution could be reached
