Inflation Monitor | May 2022
The consumer price index accelerated to 6.5% in May 2022, from 5.9% in April.
Trade union strategies for bargaining with foreign companies in South Africa
In November, workers at Israeli-owned dairy company, Clover, went on a prolonged strike. In this video, Cynthia Joyce, National Sector Organiser at the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU), notes four key lessons for worker organisations negotiating with foreign companies.
14 steps trade unions can take to prevent discrimination against LGBT workers
Trade unions work to protect the rights of all members, including those who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT). #PrideMonth2022
LRS Webinar Series | Introducing The Negotiators’ Guide
The Labour Research Service presented the first of a series of webinars on The Negotiators’ Guide to shop stewards, organisers and negotiators. View the webinar recording and resources.
Introducing The Negotiators’ Guide to working class leaders
Webinar presentation by Trenton Elsely, Executive Director of Labour Research Service. Get your copy.
Using the law to support bargaining strategies: Which labour law for which problem?
16 examples of challenges that negotiators might encounter.
Trade Unions Going Green – Environmental issues in the world of work
Trade Unions Going Green booklet seeks to encourage unions to initiate campaigns to address environmental issues in the workplace. The booklet will help to put unions in a position to engage in dialogue for sustainable development policies, while representing the interests and needs of workers.
Wage Bargaining | Four lessons from trade unions in the public sector
Trade unions in the public sector want big changes in how the remuneration of their members is negotiated. In this video, HOSPERSA’s Chief Negotiator at the PSCBC, Suzan Ntlatleng, shares the key lessons learned during wage negotiations.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution: a seductive idea requiring critical engagement
Digital technologies are reshaping the structure of the labour market and conditions of work. We can allow capital to do what it wants. Or we can start imagining a world where we set the parameters for what technology should be.
What to do about the lack of labour provisions in the AfCFTA agreement
Seven steps to ensure decent work in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
Coming out at work: A practical guide for LGBT workers
Coming out at work can be daunting and risky for many LGBT workers. Know how to come out in a way that is right and safe for you.
A guide to negotiating for inclusivity and against discrimination in the trade union and the workplace
An essential resource for trade union negotiators and activists.
Power Up! consortium intends to transform power in three key areas
In South Africa, the Labour Research Service supports volunteer food handlers in the National School Nutrition Programme to have their jobs made visible, recognised, valued and remunerated. Know more.
Five tips for negotiating at informal economy forums
Collective negotiations can protect workers from the worst impacts of informalisation.
Inflation Monitor | April 2022
The Consumer Price Index remained at 5.9% in April 2022, unchanged from March.
The Real Economy Bulletin | Q4_2021
Produced by Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS), this edition of The Real Economy Bulletin provides trends and data for GDP growth; employment; international trade; investment; FDI projects; and insights on the impact of the Ukraine war on South Africa’s economy and how to foster inclusive use of electric vehicles.
Guide to retrenchment law and processes
Understanding retrenchment law is a base upon which worker leaders can build strategies for saving jobs and supporting workers when retrenchments are unavoidable.
Six bargaining strategies for the future
Trade unions are not powerless when it comes to influencing the future of work and shaping the reality of work.
The basics of the National School Nutrition Programme
The National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) aims to enhance learning capacity and access to education by providing nutritious meals to learners at schools in South Africa’s most impoverished communities.
What is happening with inflation, and what does it mean for wage negotiations?
The trade union negotiator’s checklist for dealing with inflation in wage increases.
Inflation Monitor | March 2022
The headline annual inflation rate increased to 5.9% in March 2022, from 5.7% in February 2022. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 1.0% month-on-month in March 2022.
The essentials of collective bargaining in South Africa
The collective bargaining process comprises four main parts: preparation, negotiation, agreement and implementation. Know the steps to follow in each part of the process.
2021 wage bargaining review
This report describes wage outcomes in 2021 found in collective agreements collected by the Labour Research Service. The report aims to inform strategy development in trade unions.
Wage bargaining review | 2021
This report describes wage outcomes in 2021 found in collective agreements collected by the Labour Research Service. The report aims to inform strategy development in trade unions.
Three steps to take and save jobs before the start of a retrenchment process
Trade unions can intervene and try to tackle problems in companies before a Section 189 notice is issued.
What you need to know about negotiating better conditions at work
A framework for negotiating conditions at work, no matter where the workplace is located, no matter what the status of workers, and no matter how unorganised workers are.
Five workplace problem scenarios and the labour laws to use
From retrenchment and unfair dismissal to discrimination and a company that makes unilateral changes to the terms and conditions of employment of workers, which labour laws for which problems?
How unions can support workers facing retrenchment
A trade union checklist if retrenchments seem unavoidable.
Inflation Monitor | February 2022
Annual consumer inflation held steady at 5. 7% in February 2022, unchanged from January. But food and transport prices put upward pressure on the monthly rate, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the goods increasing by 0.6% between January and February.
How to improve your power at the bargaining table and win favourable agreements
The process of negotiations forms the central part of collective bargaining. Here are the essential steps to follow.
Eight ways to build coalitions and make solidarity work in trade unions
Diverse coalitions hold great potential to further collective bargaining in a changing workplace. Learn the strategies for building successful alliances.
How to approach the equity bargaining process
Collective bargaining can promote equity in the workplace and address the entrenched misconceptions about the role of women workers. Here’s how the trade union negotiator should approach the equity bargaining process.
How to build a wage demand and calculate percentages and money amounts
This wage bargaining guide is for negotiators in all kinds of bargaining environments.
11 steps you should take to prepare for wage bargaining
There are certain key steps to take when preparing for wage bargaining. From gathering information to developing positions to take into negotiations, learn how the effective negotiator approaches wage bargaining.
Recruitment vs. Organising: What’s the difference?
The difference between recruitment and organising comes down to what a worker is likely to think about, feel and do. Learn more about the differences.
Inflation Monitor | January 2022
The Consumer Price Index eased to 5.7% in January of 2022, from a near five-year high of 5.9% in December. Prices slowed for transport and health but rose faster for food, housing and utilities.
MNC Trends Report | 2021
The MNC Trends Report of the Labour Research Service provides information on the performance, operations and governance of 81 JSE-listed South African multinational companies. Trade unions use the information to improve their strategies for bargaining, alliance building and campaigns.
Workplace rights belong to everyone
A step-by-step guide to negotiating for inclusivity and against discrimination in the trade union and the workplace.
The LRS Negotiator’s Guide – A guide to organising in a changing workplace
This guide is for negotiators looking to renew their strategy and approach in the face of the ongoing reorganization of work, retrenchments and restructuring, and the increasing precariousness of being a worker.
The Negotiator’s Guide Chapter 1 | An introduction to negotiations
The collective bargaining process comprises four main parts: Preparation, negotiation, agreement and implementation. Here are the steps to follow in each part of the process.
The Negotiator’s Guide Chapter 2 | Recruitment and organising
Recruitment and organising are two key processes in collective bargaining. Let’s recollect the differences between a worker that has been recruited and a worker that is organised through describing what each of these workers are thinking about, what feelings they might experience and how they might act.
The Negotiator’s Guide Chapter 3 | Solidarity and coalitions
Eight ideas for building solidarity in and through coalitions to further collective bargaining in your organisation.
The Negotiator’s Guide Chapter 4 | Using the law to support bargaining strategies
16 common workplace challenges and the labour laws that could help you deal with the situations.
The Negotiator’s Guide Chapter 5 | A framework for negotiating conditions at work
A way to think about conditions at work in relation to the collective agreement, and the benchmarks in South Africa’s labour law to help you establish a floor of minimum conditions. A must-read for worker leaders in more informal workplaces that are looking to establish minimum standards.
The Negotiator’s Guide Chapter 6 | An introduction to wage bargaining
An in-depth guide that shows you how to build a wage, the different approaches to dealing with inflation, simple formulas for calculating percentages and money amounts, and how to communicate with workers.
The Negotiator’s Guide Chapter 7 | Bargaining for gender equity
Collective bargaining is an important tool for addressing structural gender inequities in the trade union and workplace. Here are the important terms to know, specific bargaining demands for gender equity and a guide to the bargaining process.
The Negotiator’s Guide Chapter 8 | Workplace rights belong to everyone
Know the words and terms to use when talking about equality, the legislation protecting workers from discrimination and how to support and protect LGBT members of the union.
The Negotiator’s Guide Chapter 9 | Negotiating restructuring and retrenchment
Guidance on developing practical strategies for saving jobs at companies. Know how to: Identify the company in distress, decide on the most important interventions and minimise the impact of retrenchments when they are unavoidable.
The Negotiator’s Guide Chapter 10 | Trade Unions organising and bargaining in value chains
An introduction to the concept of value chains and value chain mapping to connect with workers that informalisation might have hidden from view.
The Negotiator’s Guide Chapter 11 | Negotiating the future of work
Trade union strategies to shape and respond to the Future of Work and automation.
The Negotiator’s Guide – A guide to negotiating in a changing workplace
The LRS Negotiator’s Guide provides strategies to inspire, organise and represent workers.
Power Up! Women advocate for bodies, voices and resources
Seeking to connect and support women in precarious work to have their jobs made visible, recognised, valued and remunerated.
How does the family and school community value the role of volunteer food handlers in meeting the immediate need of feeding school children?
Voluntary food handlers are aware that they are not valued for the work they do in the National School Nutrition Programme, in schools, and in the communities that they live in.
Transportation | 2021 Sector Report
Trade union bargaining strategies in South African multinational companies: Revenue, profit and directors’ remuneration for the construction sector.
Technology and Telecommunications | 2021 Sector Report
Trade union bargaining strategies in South African multinational companies: Revenue, profit and directors’ remuneration for the technology and telecommunication sector.
Paper and packaging | 2021 Sector Report
Trade union bargaining strategies in South African multinational companies: Revenue, profit and directors’ remuneration for the paper and packaging sector.
Mining | 2021 Sector Report
Trade union bargaining strategies in South African multinational companies: Revenue, profit and directors’ remuneration for the mining sector.
Industrial | 2021 Sector Report
Trade union bargaining strategies in South African multinational companies: Revenue, profit and directors’ remuneration for the industrial sector.
Hospitality | 2021 Sector Report
Trade union bargaining strategies in South African multinational companies: Revenue, profit and directors’ remuneration for the hospitality sector.
Health | 2021 Sector Report
Trade union bargaining strategies in South African multinational companies: Revenue, profit and directors’ remuneration for the health sector.
Food and beverage | 2021 Sector Report
Trade union bargaining strategies in South African multinational companies: Revenue, profit and directors’ remuneration for the food and beverage sector.
Diversified Sector | 2021 Sector Report
Trade union bargaining strategies in South African multinational companies: Revenue, profit and directors’ remuneration for the diversified sector.
Construction | 2021 Sector Report
Trade union bargaining strategies in South African multinational companies: Revenue, profit and directors’ remuneration for the construction sector.
Banking and financial services | 2021 Sector Report
Trade union bargaining strategies in South African multinational companies: Revenue, profit and directors’ remuneration for the banking and financial services sector.
Inflation Monitor | December 2021
The annual consumer price inflation was 5.9% in December 2021, compared with 5.5% in November. It’s the highest recorded annual rate since March 2017, when it increased by 6.1%. Transport prices increased by a massive 16.8%, on the back of rising petrol and diesel prices.
The labour laws every worker representative in South Africa should know
An effective shop steward can identify key labour laws to support the union’s bargaining and organising activities.
Inflation Monitor | November 2021
The Consumer Price Index increased to 5.5% in November 2021, compared with 5% in October. That’s the biggest annual increase in almost 5 years. The transport category contributed the most to the inflation in November, recording an annual increase of 15%.
What will it take to create pathways to women’s economic autonomy, resilience and stability?
It’s time to Power Up! We need to build women’s voice and leadership and strengthen women-led movements to shift power and advance the rights of all women.
The role of Volunteer Food Handlers in the National School Nutrition Programme
Through discussing issues close to their hearts, volunteer food handlers will see and articulate the important role they have in the National School Nutrition Programme and the school community.
Trade Unions and Trade: A Guide to the African Continental Free Trade Agreement
Despite the complexities associated with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the risks for workers and communities within such large-scale trade liberalisation, trade unions lack a well-formulated policy position on the agreement. Trade Unions and Trade: A Guide to the African Continental Trade Agreement aims to assist unions in developing their policy positions and to engage with the AfCFTA processes with confidence.
What will it take to create a successful national response to GBV in South Africa?
The recent crime statistics released by the South African Police Service show Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is devastatingly pervasive. Lindelwe Nxumalo, Women’s Rights Programme Manager at ActionAid, offers some actions for ensuring a successful national response to GBV.
How to deal with sexual harassment in the workplace
Sexual harassment in the workplace is manifesting in more subtle forms. Know more and protect your rights as a worker.
Addressing gender-based violence in the workplace
When stakeholders act collectively, it is possible to transform the norms, policies and practices that perpetuate gender-based violence in the workplace.
Retail | 2021 Sector Report
Trade union bargaining strategies in South African multinational companies: Revenue, profit and directors’ remuneration for the retail sector.
Inflation Monitor | October 2021
The Consumer Price Index came out unchanged at 5% compared to September. Food and transport costs are the biggest contributors to the rate, with the transport index increasing by 10.9% in October 2021 compared with October 2020. And the SARB has raised its main lending rate by 25 basis points to 3.75%, meaning the prime lending rate of commercial banks will increase to 7.25%.
Using labour laws in union bargaining: 12 possible workplace scenarios
Effective shop stewards use labour laws as a tool for organising.
The LRS MNC database: Keeping multinational companies in Africa accountable
The LRS Multinational Corporations (MNC) database tracks over 80 JSE-listed companies operating in 14 sectors. Find simplified financial information of the company. Monitor profit across the sector. Know how much the CEO was paid.
Workplace grievances: 10 steps to handle them effectively
A guide for shop stewards on how to solve workers’ complaints and maintain strong workplace unions.
The world of work and Covid-19: Six important things to know
The impact of the pandemic on employment is worse than expected, says the International Labour Organisation in a new report.
Bargaining at company level: A basic guide for shop stewards
Learn a step-by-step approach to successful bargaining at the company level. #goingbacktobasics
Inflation Monitor | September 2021
The headline inflation rose to 5% in September 2021 from 4.9% in August 2021. Food inflation is 7%, electricity 14%, and fuel almost 20%, with a large petrol price increase expected in November.
A decent standard of living costs R7 911
The Decent Standard of Living measure offers us a fresh way of looking at the living wage. This measure defines what makes a decent standard of living and it is made of the perceptions of our people. This measure is based on a set of 34 socially perceived necessities for a decent life. If you have these things, you have a decent standard of living.
Decent Standard of Living Colloquium Report | 2021
This report is the outcome of our 2021 DSL Colloquium, which presented an updated list of Socially Perceived Necessities (SPNs). The SPNs illustrate what South Africans consider essential living conditions and/or possessions needed to live a decent life.
Inflation Monitor | August 2021
The term inflation means a sustained increase in the general level of prices of goods and services. The headline annual inflation rate increased to 4.9% in August 2021 from 4.6% in July 2021.
Organising and empowering young women workers
Our range of resources address the key workplace issues for young women workers and are useful for the union that wants to tap into the creativity and energy that empowered young women members can bring to the organisation.
Inflation Monitor | July 2021
The headline annual inflation rate declined to 4.6% in July 2021 from 4.9% in June 2021.
Bargaining with a gender equity lens – A resource for trade union facilitators and trainers
Our facilitation exercise will strengthen the ability of workshop participants to understand concepts and have the confidence to bargain with a gender equity lens. Get your copy.
The economic cost of sexual harassment in the workplace
As South Africa celebrates Women’s Month, Johan Botes of Baker McKenzie explores the findings of a new report highlighting the economic costs of sexual harassment and suggests ways in which the situation could be changed.
Inflation Monitor | June 2021
The headline annual inflation rate was 4.9% in June 2021, compared with 5.2% in May 2021.
Value chain analysis as a tool for renewing trade union organising and bargaining strategies
Effective trade unions act at the local, sectoral and global levels. Learn the four elements to value chain mapping.
Gender equity and social dialogue | Facilitation exercise
Outcome: Strengthen our understanding of social dialogue in creating gender equity.
Women contributing to the economy | Facilitation exercise
Women feel more confident in participating in political economy discussions.
Bargaining with a gender equity lens | Facilitation exercise
Outcome: Strengthening our understanding and confidence in bargaining with a gender equity lens.
Trade unions and the struggle for gender justice | Facilitation exercise
Outcome: Reflection on our organisational policies and practices in relation to creating a gender-equitable trade union.
Women trade union leadership | Facilitation excercise
Outcome: Participants feel comfortable, supported and confident in participating in the workshop.
Resources for union facilitators and trainers
It’s proven that exercises and games activate our senses and increase creative learning of new concepts and understanding of ideas. Our collection of facilitation exercises will help trainers involved in participatory education activities for workers.
10 key findings from the 2021 Global Rights Index
Abuses of the right to strike, the right to establish and join a trade union, the right to trade union activities and civil liberties and the right to free speech and assembly are at an eight-year high, according to the ITUC’s annual Global Rights Index.
Health and safety training manual for union educators
This training manual can be used to support shop stewards in ensuring safety at the workplace during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.
Inflation Monitor | MAY 2021
The headline inflation rate in May 2021 accelerated to 5.2 % year on year. The prices of food, transport, public transport and administered prices continue to drive inflation. Remember that inflation statistics refer to the past twelve months, while wage increases refer to the months to come.