Overview  

Collective bargaining and industrial action remain central components of South African labour law and play a critical role in maintaining balanced employer–employee relations within the workplace. Employers, legal practitioners, HR professionals, and trade unions are required to navigate a complex legislative framework governing collective agreements, organisational rights, strikes, lockouts, picketing, and dispute resolution mechanisms. Failure to comply with the procedural and substantive requirements of the Labour Relations Act may result in costly litigation, workplace instability, reputational harm, and operational disruption. This webinar will provide delegates with a practical understanding of collective bargaining processes and lawful industrial action, while examining recent developments, legal obligations, and strategic approaches to managing labour disputes effectively within the South African labour law framework. 

Join Chantelle de Sousa on the 25th of June 2026 from 10:00 am to 11:30 am as she unpacks the legal framework regulating collective bargaining, strikes, lockouts, organisational rights, and dispute resolution processes, while providing practical guidance on ensuring compliance and managing labour disputes strategically and lawfully. 

Learning objectives  

Attending this webinar will equip you with the following skills: 

• Develop an understanding of the legal framework regulating collective bargaining and industrial action in South Africa 
• Interpret and apply the provisions of the Labour Relations Act relating to strikes, lockouts, picketing, and organisational rights 
• Identify procedural and substantive compliance requirements applicable during collective bargaining disputes 
• Analyse recent case law developments impacting collective bargaining and industrial action 
• Strategically manage labour disputes and advise clients or organisations on lawful dispute resolution mechanisms 

Content 

The webinar will cover the following topics:  

• Introduction to Collective Bargaining 
o Principles and purpose of collective bargaining 
o Collective agreements and bargaining structures 
o Roles of employers, employees, and trade unions 

• Overview of Labour Legislation 
o The Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 
o Constitutional labour rights 
o Regulatory and compliance framework 

• Organisational Rights and Trade Union Recognition 
o Recognition agreements 
o Trade union representation and organisational rights 
o Threshold agreements and workplace forums 

• Industrial Action: Strikes and Lockouts 
o Protected and unprotected strikes 
o Lockouts and employer recourse 
o Picketing rules and procedural compliance 
o Essential services and limitations on industrial action 

• Dispute Resolution Mechanisms 
o CCMA dispute resolution procedures 
o Conciliation, mediation, and arbitration 
o Labour Court processes and litigation considerations 
o Practical strategies for dispute management 

About the presenter 

Chantelle de Sousa 

Chantelle de Sousa Attorneys is a law firm dedicated to providing cost-effective and efficient all-round labour law services. Chantelle read for the BCom (Law and Economics) and LLB degrees at the North-West University (Potchefstroom) and the LLM (Human Rights, Conflict and Justice) at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Chantelle was admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa in March 2011 Chantelle has worked in various areas of law including intellectual property and human rights in both Europe and the rest of the SADC region. She eventually settled in the field of labour law and has worked with employers, employees and trade unions in the South African labour space. She has an excellent network in the SADC region made up of lawyers, business and civil society. She is fluent in English, Afrikaans and Portuguese. 

Who should attend?  

The following persons will benefit from attending this webinar:  

• Corporate legal professionals 

• Advocates.  

• Attorneys. .  

• Candidate attorneys.  

• Law students.  

• Paralegals.  

Price               

• R 400.00 - Online admission - Individual.  

• Group Price 1 - From R337 per person (up to 5 users)   

• Group Price 2 - From R260 per person (up to 10 users)   

• Group Price 3 - From R224 per person (over 11 users)  

Steps to register for the event:   

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Click here  to create a free profile (There is no charge to create a profile and gain access to our free Monthly Practice Management Series).  

Click here  to find out about the Technical Resource Centre & CPD Subscription options.  

Additional material  

By attending this webinar you will be provided with:  

• A summarised slide presentation.  

• Reference documents and/ or course material where available.  

• You can ask questions during the webinar and you will also have access to the presenter after the webinar.  

About SA Legal Academy  

Welcome to SA Legal Academy (SALA), a provider of courses to help you succeed in your chosen career. We are committed to providing our students with the highest quality training and support, to ensure that your skills and knowledge are up to date and ready to face the challenges of the modern workplace. Our courses are designed to ensure that you reach your professional goals and enhance your career prospects. With our experienced training staff and comprehensive resources, you can be confident that you will receive the highest quality of training from SA Legal Academy.  

SALA is a Level 2 B-BBEE contributor, with 125% procurement recognition. Training spend on certain solutions can be allocated against the Skills Development element of the B-BBEE Scorecard through accredited and nonaccredited training or claimed through SETA grants. In addition, 25% of your Skills Expenditure can be claimed on non-accredited training or courses.  

Corporate Training Solutions  

At SALA, we recognise the evolving needs of businesses in today's dynamic environment. Beyond our standard webinar offerings, we provide tailored corporate training solutions designed to empower your team with the latest in legal and professional skills. Whether you're looking for online sessions or face-to-face training, our programs are crafted to ensure a comprehensive and engaging learning experience.  

Drawing inspiration from modern training methodologies, our corporate solutions are interactive, adaptable, and focused on real-world applications. We prioritize hands-on learning, ensuring your team can immediately apply their newfound knowledge in practical scenarios.  

Interested in a bespoke corporate training experience? Reach out to us at [email protected] or call 012 941 0448. Together, let's design a training program that elevates your team's capabilities and aligns with your organizational goals.  

Contact Us For More Information  

Have any questions or need any assistance? Contact us today!   

• Online chat through our website.   

• Phone: +27 (0) 12 941 0448   

• E-mail: [email protected]