Collective Bargaining & Industrial Action
Presenters : Chantelle de Sousa
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 10h00 to 11h30 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:
-
Assess the legal framework regulating collective bargaining and industrial action under the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995.
-
Interpret and apply statutory provisions relating to organizational rights, strike protection, lockouts, and picketing rules.
-
Evaluate procedural and substantive compliance requirements during active collective bargaining disputes to mitigate client exposure.
-
Analyse recent case law developments from the Labour Court impacting organizational thresholds and industrial action.
-
Formulate strategic advice on dispute resolution pathways, including CCMA conciliation, mediation, and arbitration processes.
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