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Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act No. 66 of 1995)

Codes of Good Practice

Collective Bargaining, Industrial Action and Picketing

Part E :  Picketing

26. Purpose of the picket

 

(1) The purpose of the picket is to peacefully encourage non-striking employees and members of the public to oppose a lockout or to support strikers involved in a protected strike. The nature of that support can vary. It may be to peacefully encourage employees not to work during the strike or lockout. It may be to peacefully dissuade replacement labour from working. It may also be to persuade members of the public or other employers and their employees not to do business with the employer.

 

(2) The strike must be a protected strike. In normal cases, employees picket at their own place of work or other designated areas as agreed by the parties, or provided for by the CCMA in support of their strike against their own employer. Cases do arise, however, where employees picket at their own place of work in support of a strike between another employer and its employees. This is what is contemplated in section 66 of the Act as a "secondary strike". In this case, in order to be protected, the picket must further satisfy the requirements of a lawful secondary strike In terms of section 66. This is because the definition of "secondary   strike"  in  the   section  includes  "conduct   in  contemplation  or furtherance of a strike". A picket is "conduct in contemplation or furtherance of a strike."

 

(3) The requirements for a protected secondary strike are—
(a) the strike that is to be supported by the secondary strike must itself be a protected strike;
(b) the employer of the employees taking part in the secondary strike must have received written notice of the proposed picket at least 7 days prior to its commencement; and
(c) the nature and extent of the secondary strike must be reasonable in relation to the possible direct or indirect affect that the secondary strike may have on the business of the primary employer.

 

(4) If a picket is in support of an unprotected strike, the picket Is not protected by section 69 of the Act.

 

(5) Pickets may be held in opposition to a lockout. Section 69(1) does not distinguish between protected and unprotected lockouts. This means that a picket may be held in opposition to both a protected and an unprotected lockout.