Industrial Action and Strikes Overview
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Questions and Answers

What is a key characteristic of a strike?

  • It is a spontaneous individual decision to stop working.
  • It is carried out by employees of different companies only.
  • It requires prior approval from the employer.
  • It involves a refusal to work as a collective action. (correct)

Which of the following is NOT a reason for strike action?

  • Desire for organizational ranking (correct)
  • Dissatisfaction with conditions of service
  • General dissatisfaction among employees
  • Solidarity with other employees

What type of strike occurs suddenly without prior warning?

  • Picketing
  • Wildcats strike (correct)
  • Overtime ban
  • Sympathy strike

Which method best describes holding production without stopping operations completely?

<p>Go slow (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of sympathy strikes?

<p>To pressurize the employer for a settlement (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT considered a contributing factor to strikes?

<p>High employee morale (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the key differences between a protected strike and an unprotected strike?

<p>Unprotected strikes do not offer legal protection for participants. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What must be provided for a strike to be classified as protected?

<p>Certification from the CCMA showing failed conciliation (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common form of employee action aside from striking?

<p>Work to rule (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a lockout?

<p>Exclusion of employees by employers to compel agreement (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a legal requirement before embarking on a strike if the employer is a public service?

<p>Giving 7 days written notice of proposed strike (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is considered a significant change in labor market trends during the COVID-19 era?

<p>Shift to remote working (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential consequence of unprotected strikes?

<p>Possibility of employee dismissal (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of essential services?

<p>They may endanger lives or health if interrupted. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes minimum services during a strike?

<p>They consist of a reduced number of employees who work. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT a purpose of a contingency plan during a strike?

<p>Enhancing competitive strategies against rival companies. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How should the SAPS intervene during a strike?

<p>They intervene when a strike poses threats or leads to violence. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which action is part of an effective action plan during a strike?

<p>Manning key positions and keeping a strike diary (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What should be done after a strike to ensure agreement fulfillment?

<p>Taking necessary precautions to prevent recurrence. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents a common misconception about maintenance services?

<p>They can be interrupted without consequences. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is required when negotiating with striking workers?

<p>Facilitation of a negotiation forum. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Strike definition

A temporary, collective refusal to work by employees to pressure employers to address demands related to grievances or disputes.

Reasons for strikes

Strikes happen due to a variety of reasons including employee dissatisfaction, poor working conditions, economic concerns, and lack of consultation.

Wildcat strike

A strike that happens unexpectedly and without authorization.

Sit-down strike

Employees refusing to leave the workplace to prevent management from using replacement workers.

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Picketing

Standing outside a workplace to publicize a labor dispute.

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Factors contributing to strikes

Situations that make strikes more likely, such as location, legislation, homogeneous work groups, shift in business cycles, community support, work process, labour relationship, strength of the union movement, inter-union rivalry, and size of the organization.

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Work to rule

Employees strictly adhere to their job descriptions and work rules, doing the bare minimum, slowing down operations without an official strike.

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Withdrawal of co-operation

Employees refuse to help or cooperate beyond their job roles, creating difficulties for the employer without an official strike.

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Product and services boycotts

Employees or unions call for the public to avoid buying or using the employer's goods or services to put pressure on the company.

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Lockout

Employers exclude employees from the workplace to force them to accept demands in a dispute. Employers don't have to pay employees during a lockout.

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Protected strike

A strike where employees are legally protected from dismissal for participating.

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Unprotected strike

A strike that doesn't meet legal requirements, leaving employees vulnerable to dismissal.

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Legal requirements for protected strike

Specific procedures and notifications that must be followed before a strike can be legally protected, including Conciliation, advisory Arbitration, and notice periods.

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Short notice period, reason?

There must be valid reasons to allow a shorter notice period for strikes, especially in essential services where disruption can have severe consequences.

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Essential Services

These are crucial services like medical, fire, and emergency services that cannot be interrupted without endangering the lives, health, or safety of the population.

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Maintenance Services

These services involve tasks that maintain physical infrastructure, like factories or machinery. Interruption can cause damage, halting operations.

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Minimum Services during strike

A reduced workforce continues to work during a strike to ensure essential services are provided and public safety isn't compromised.

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SAPS role during a strike

The South African Police Service protects citizens, enforces laws, but intervenes only if a strike becomes violent or threatens public safety.

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Contingency plan purpose

A comprehensive plan to address potential disruptions during a strike, focusing on ensuring safety and minimizing disruption to operations.

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Action plan for strike

Detailed actions to be taken during a strike, including managing employees, communication, and security measures.

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Aftercare for strike

Steps taken after a strike to address outstanding issues, restore relationships, and ensure such events are less likely to happen again.

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Study Notes

Industrial Action

  • A strike is a temporary, collective refusal to work, to compel an employer to address employee demands.
  • According to the Labour Relations Act (LRA), section 213, a strike is a partial or complete refusal to work, hindering work, by employees, to resolve a grievance or disagreement.
  • Key elements of a strike include the collective refusal to work and the grievance or dispute that motivates the action.

Reasons for Strike Action

  • Dissatisfaction among employees
  • Adversarial relationships
  • Economic concerns
  • Dissatisfaction with work conditions
  • Solidarity with other employees
  • Personal problems
  • Socio-economic issues
  • Lack of consultation
  • Need to demonstrate strength
  • Trade union rivalry

Types of Strikes

  • Sit-down: Employees remain at their work station to prevent management from replacing them.
  • Wildcat: Strikes that occur without prior warning, often spontaneously.
  • Sympathy: Employees from the same company or industry strike in support of workers in another dispute.
  • Overtime bans: Employees refuse to work overtime to pressure employers to improve wages.
  • Go-slow: Employees deliberately work at a slower pace to put pressure on employers.
  • Picketing: Workers demonstrate outside the workplace to publicize their dispute.

Factors Contributing to Strikes

  • Location
  • Legislation

Protected and Unprotected Strikes and Lockouts

  • Protected strikes: Employees cannot be dismissed for participating. Requires certification from CCMA that conciliation has failed, and referral to bargaining council or CCMA if refusal to bargain. If the employer is public service, the employer must be served notice of proposed lockout or strike.

  • Unprotected strikes: Strikes without necessary statutory requirements; employees who participate may be dismissed.

  • Shift to remote work
  • Retrenchment
  • Collective bargaining
  • Reduced compliance with labour standards
  • Precarious employment
  • Impact on women

Essential Services

  • Essential services are crucial for maintaining safety and well-being of communities (e.g., medical, fire services). Any interruption may endanger lives.

Maintenance Services

  • Maintenance services must not be interrupted as this could cause physical damage to the working area, plant, or machinery.

Minimum Services

  • Minimum services are essential to safeguard life, health and personal safety during a strike.

Handling Strikes

  • Contingency planning aims to minimize negative impacts of strikes.
  • Negotiate with striking employees.
  • Protect people and property.
  • Formulate guidelines for striking employees.
  • Establish a uniform policy and plan of action.
  • Arrange for continuation of production (or shutdown).
  • Man key positions

Aftercare

  • Agreements and promises must be upheld.
  • Prevent future conflicts by improving communication channels.
  • Measures to avoid recurrences should be placed.
  • After a cooling-down period, arrangements for follow-up should be made.

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Description

This quiz delves into the concept of industrial action, focusing on strikes as a collective refusal to work. It covers the reasons behind strikes, the different types of strikes, and the legal framework governing them. Test your knowledge on how strikes impact employee relations and organizational dynamics.

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