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1 year ago
Injured at work: How this trade unionist overcame adversity
Richard Njenjema (33) is a migrant worker and a campaigner for better access to social protection for domestic workers.
Category: Articles
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1 year ago
Using the law to support bargaining strategies: Which labour laws for which problem?
Effective shop stewards use labour laws to organise and represent workers. Here are 16 workplace scenarios and the labour laws to use for best results.
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1 year ago
Resources for facilitators and trainers
Exercises and games stimulate the senses and help us to learn new concepts and ideas creatively. Access our facilitation exercises for use in participatory education.
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1 year ago
Trade union action on labour migration for Africa’s development
Trade unions can help meet the challenges of free movement and free trade in Africa to benefit African workers and economies.
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1 year ago
Tackling the huge pay gap in the public sector
The 3% increase for office bearers is below average inflation, but what does it mean in Rand terms compared to the 7.5% increase for ordinary workers in the public service?
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1 year ago
Automation, data mining and the future of retail jobs
Automation and data mining in the context of workers’ data rights is a major concern for the future, and retail unions want to see a better balance between the use of technology and the protection of workers’ privacy and rights.
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1 year ago
A Guide to the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Goods
The Guide to the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Goods identifies areas of caution and opportunities for trade unions campaigning for decent work in the Continental Free Trade Area.
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1 year ago
Framing a just transition for trade unions in Africa
How do we define a just transition? What steps can we take to make it more tangible?
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1 year ago
RESOURCE: The Real Economy Bulletin | Q1 2023
The Real Economy Bulletin examines real economy trends, developments and data and is useful for negotiations and research.
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1 year ago
Thinking about labour provisions and the AfCFTA
We support trade unions campaigning for decent work in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
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1 year ago
RESOURCE: Bargaining Benchmarks | June 2023
This is a vital resource for trade union negotiators that want to enter bargaining processes as informed role players.
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1 year ago
Negotiating inclusivity: The experience of a queer workers’ representative
Tumelo Mokoena (33) is a member of FEDUSA’s youth committee who says progressive workplace policies have contributed to a positive experience as a worker and trade union representative.
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1 year ago
Six trade union responses to the impact of the AfCFTA in Namibia
These suggestions for dealing with the impact of the Continental Free Trade Area on jobs and employment can also help trade unions in other countries.
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2 years ago
Using feminist pedagogy to transform a university trade union
Women leaders in the Academic and Professional Staff Association Union (APSA) are inspired to incorporate feminist principles, values and approaches into the policies and activities of the union.
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2 years ago
Four reasons to use the LRS Agreements Database
Sharing knowledge about successful negotiations and agreements can strengthen the overall position of workers and trade unions and lead to better outcomes for all.
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2 years ago
Gender equality: What it is and how to achieve it
Learn what creating a culture of gender equality means for the Labour Research Service.
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2 years ago
How trade unions can support Education Support Personnel
Teachers’ unions are concerned about the exploitation of education support personnel, the lack of decent jobs and the violation of fundamental human and labour rights, including the right to organise and bargain collectively.
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2 years ago
A review of minimum wages and conditions at work
In a new target, the National Minimum Wage Commission says the lowest-paid workers must get pay rises above inflation.
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2 years ago
What is the principle behind a condition at work?
Conditions at work always have a principle of wellbeing, fairness or a social value that underpins them. This principle forms the foundation of arguments in negotiations. Here are 15 main types of conditions at work and their value.
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2 years ago
Resource: Inflation Monitor | March 2023
Inflation tells us something about the buying power of a worker. Effective negotiators need to ensure that workers get regular increases to maintain the buying power of their wages.
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2 years ago
What a 7.5% wage increase means for the lowest paid worker in the public sector
Public sector workers will continue to have a hard time making ends meet. The increase is only 0.5% above the current rate of inflation.
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2 years ago
Strengthening collective bargaining is essential to counter the tactics of big business
SACCAWU’s example shows how LRS member unions are getting better at using company information to win better outcomes for members.
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2 years ago
Mapping the legal exclusion of domestic workers from labour law in Africa
An analysis of gaps in the regulation of domestic work in South Africa, Malawi, Mauritius, Lesotho, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia.
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2 years ago
Volunteer Food Handlers advocate to have their jobs made visible, recognised, valued and remunerated
At a media conference on 29 March, food handlers spoke about their campaign for decent jobs for the more than 60,000 workers recruited by the National School Nutrition Programme to prepare and serve meals in schools countrywide.
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2 years ago
Building a campaign to recognise and value the work of Volunteer Food Handlers
The workers who cook meals for millions of learners across the country are classified as volunteers and paid a stipend. Recruiting workers as volunteers has become another way of pushing women into unrecognised and low-paid work.
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2 years ago
Resource: Inflation Monitor | February 2023
A simplified version of the latest inflation data to support negotiators and the bargaining process of the trade union.
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2 years ago
Trade unions and Trade: The four main issues for unions in Tunisia in the AfCFTA era
Research and strategy support for the trade union movement to engage with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) agreement.
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2 years ago
Bargaining Benchmarks | March 2023
This report provides union negotiators with the benchmarks to enter bargaining processes as informed role players.
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2 years ago
AGREED: A database of collective agreements for bargaining and research purposes
You have signed the collective agreement. You have shared it with your constituency and filed it safely for future reference. What if you could benchmark the agreement against agreements in other unions or sectors? You can do this and more with the LRS Agreements Database (AGREED).
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2 years ago
A checklist for bargaining with companies
Trade union negotiators can prepare for negotiations by following these five steps for using company information.
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2 years ago
Wage Bargaining Review | 2023
How have unions fared at the negotiating table? Our wage outcomes report aims to inform trade union strategic bargaining in 2023 and beyond.
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2 years ago
How relief grants can be used to help young people into jobs
There’s a case to be made for combining cash grants and job-search assistance services.
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2 years ago
Trade unions negotiating on environmental issues in the world of work
The ‘Trade Unions Going Green’ booklet is for workers’ organisations interested in the potential of a just transition. The booklet offers practical information for ensuring this for workers.
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2 years ago
Retail sector and company performance report | 2022
Is the company making a profit? How much does the CEO earn? Does the union have accurate information on the finances of the company? The LRS sector and company performance report for the retail sector will help the union to formulate its bargaining demands.
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2 years ago
Time for transparency on executive pay in South Africa
Retail executives earn 700 times more than the lowest paid workers in their industry.
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2 years ago
Trade unions and Trade: The possible effects of the AfCFTA on workers in Chad
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is unlikely to boost intra-trade in Chad, according to our study, which recommends several measures to promote development, growth and poverty reduction in the north-central African country.
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2 years ago
How trade unions can support volunteer food handlers
As key players in the school community and in government consultative spaces, trade union activists can help to make visible the work of volunteer food handlers in the National School Nutrition Programme.
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2 years ago
NEW RESOURCE: MNC Trends Report | 2022
Trade union bargaining strategies in South African multinationals: A review of revenue, profits and executive pay for JSE-listed companies operating in 12 sectors.
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2 years ago
Bargaining with South African multinational companies: Sector and company performance reports
How much does the CEO of your company earn? Is the company you work for making a profit? When negotiating, do the bosses accurately reflect the finances of the company?
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2 years ago
RESOURCE: Bargaining Benchmarks | December 2022
A resource for trade union negotiators in South Africa.
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2 years ago
Using C190 to support the struggle against homophobic and transphobic violence in the world of work
What will it take for trade unions to use ILO Convention 190 as a tool for protecting LGBTQ+ workers and young job seekers from discrimination and violence?
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2 years ago
RESOURCE: LRS framework for negotiating conditions at work
Our framework for negotiating conditions at work provides a way to think about conditions at work in relation to collective agreements and labour laws. A must-read for worker representatives that want to establish minimum standards in more informal workplaces.
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2 years ago
Implementing C190: Lessons from South Africa on ending violence in the world of work
A conversation with Nosipho Twala, Gender Equality Educator and Researcher at Labour Research Service.
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2 years ago
A trade union approach to addressing gender-based violence in health settings
In a society that does not value the work of caring, unions can lead social action initiatives to reduce violence in health facilities by drawing a direct relationship between the devaluing of the reproductive work of healthcare workers and the rising levels of GBV in the health system.
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2 years ago
3% wage increase: What does it mean for the lowest-paid worker in the public sector?
“We are no longer just fighting for a decent wage. We are fighting to keep the right to collective bargaining,” says trade unions protesting the government’s move to push through below-inflation wage increase.
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2 years ago
Everything you need to know about strikes
A step-by-step guide to planning an effective strike.
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2 years ago
VIDEO | What’s happening at Massmart?
The delisting of Massmart is bad news for workers and unions at the retail company.
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2 years ago
What unions can do to make the protections in C190 possible
Convention 190 (C190) and the accompanying Recommendation No. 206 (R206) provide a common framework to stop violence and harassment in the world of work, including gender-based violence and harassment.
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2 years ago
Bargaining Benchmarks | October 2022
Five benchmarks to help trade union negotiators enter bargaining processes as informed role players.
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2 years ago
Future of work dictionary: The worker leader’s guide to the jargon
What do we mean by ‘industry 4.0’, ‘future of work’, ‘fourth industrial revolution and ‘gig economy? Know the key terms in shaping and negotiating the future of work.
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2 years ago
Tunis declaration calls for the inclusion of labour provisions in the AfCFTA agreement
The Tunis declaration, adopted on 27 September by trade unions from 39 African countries, stresses the inclusion of labour provisions in the AfCFTA agreement to ensure compliance with international labour standards and the decent work agenda.
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2 years ago
A personal perspective on parental leave
Trade unions must continue to demand adequate maternity protection, paid parental leave and other basic social protection measures for all working parents.
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2 years ago
How reclaimers bargain | Struggles and successes of a worker organisation
Louis Mahlangu, Organiser at African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO), speaks about the organisation’s collective bargaining experience. ARO is the first to unite workers in South Africa’s landfills and streets.
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2 years ago
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.
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2 years ago
Nine practical strategies for saving jobs at companies
Trade unions have the power to develop and adopt plans to save jobs. Here are some strategies for unionists to consider.
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2 years ago
Research and strategy support for trade unions in Africa to engage with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) agreement
The trade union movement has the opportunity to participate in the negotiations, policy development and implementation processes of the AFCFTA agreement and advance the decent work agenda on the continent.
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2 years ago
Finding a support system at work: My experience as a lesbian worker in the retail sector
“I came out at home and then I came out at work,” says Sanna Patricia Sekaule (49), whose story illustrates the importance of family support and acceptance, and bringing your whole self to the workplace.
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2 years ago
Working against discrimination and homophobia in the workplace
INTERVIEW: FEDUSA’s Social Policy Officer, Brenda Modise, speaks about the federation’s efforts to popularise its LGBTIQ+ resolution, as well as the lessons learned in promoting the rights of workers who are LGBTIQ+. The Labour Research Service supports the efforts of unions to negotiate for inclusivity and against discrimination.
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2 years ago
Tips for organising women in the informal economy
Some basic recruiting strategies for organisers that want to bring women workers in the informal into the trade union.
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2 years ago
Domestic workers demand better access to social protection
Domestic workers’ organisations have ramped up advocacy for access to UIF and COIDA so that all workers are covered for future crises.
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2 years ago
Volunteer Food Handlers are the hands and heart of the National School Nutrition Programme
The work of feeding millions of children must be seen as work deserving of recognition and value. We need decent jobs for volunteer food handlers.
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2 years ago
Ten articles to read in August
August is women’s month in South Africa, a time when gender equality and women’s empowerment take centre stage. The Labour Research Service stands with worker organisations that work tirelessly to advance women’s right to decent work.
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2 years ago
LRS WEBINAR: Negotiating for inclusivity and against discrimination
This webinar is for working class leaders – gender coordinators, shop stewards, organisers, negotiators, and gender activists – that share a desire to protect and advance the right to equality for workers who are LGBTQ+.
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2 years ago
Feminist visions of the future of women’s work in Africa
12 key initiatives for mitigating the immediate negative impact of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) on women workers in Africa.
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2 years ago
Workplace rights belong to everyone
A step-by-step guide to negotiating for inclusivity and against discrimination in the trade union and the workplace.
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2 years ago
Five trade union demands for mainstreaming gender in trade agreements
More action is needed to achieve equity, equality, non-discrimination and women empowerment in trade agreements. Here are five trade union demands for mainstreaming gender in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
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2 years ago
Collective bargaining benchmarks in South Africa
The Labour Research Service update on collective bargaining benchmarks in South Africa looks at three factors: the national minimum wage, economic indicators and bargaining indicators.
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2 years ago
A trade union guide for negotiating the future of work
Strategies that trade unions can adapt to be more influential in shaping and responding to the future of work.
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2 years ago
LRS Inflation Monitor | June 2022
Our simplified version of what is happening with inflation in South Africa.
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2 years ago
Digital labour platforms subject global South workers to ‘algorithmic insecurity’
But platform workers are pushing back and demanding greater transparency and improved conditions.
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2 years ago
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.
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2 years ago
Strategies to inspire, organise and represent workers
An introduction to The LRS Negotiator’s Guide | A video presentation of the leading ideas from each of the chapters of the Guide.
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2 years ago
Can workers in Ghana’s manufacturing sector gain from the AfCFTA?
Our research shows real opportunities for Ghana to enhance its manufacturing capability and create jobs under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. But for businesses and citizens to fully benefit, stakeholders must address some immediate risks.
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2 years ago
Bargaining Benchmarks | July 2022
LRS Bargaining Benchmarks publication is for trade union negotiators. Our series of benchmarks will help the negotiator to enter into bargaining as an informed role player.
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2 years ago
Industry wage settlements | Q1 2022
LRS Actual Wage Rates Database | Mining & quarry sectors gained the highest percentage increase on actual wages in Q1 of 2022. View our snapshot of wage settlements in selected sectors.
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2 years ago
Education unions build momentum to end violence in schools in the time of covid-19
Here is the experience of Joan Aja, Gender and Resource Mobilisation Officer at Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU).
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2 years ago
Annual Report | 2021
Over 30 years working for workers: See our programme work report for 2021 and financial statements.
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2 years ago
Trade union strategies for bargaining with foreign companies
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.
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2 years ago
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
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2 years ago
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.
Read More
2 years ago
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.
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2 years ago
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.
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2 years ago
What to do about the lack of labour provisions in the AfCFTA agreement
Seven steps to ensure decent work in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
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2 years ago
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.
Read More
2 years ago
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.
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3 years ago
Five tips for negotiating at informal economy forums
Collective negotiations can protect workers from the worst impacts of informalisation.
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3 years ago
A trade union 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.
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3 years ago
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.
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3 years ago
Workers’ Day 2022: In praise of worker leaders in South Africa and beyond
On this Workers’ Day, the Labour Research Service praises elected worker leaders and give a voice to these courageous comrades by sharing their stories of being a worker leader.
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3 years ago
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.
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3 years ago
Wage Bargaining Review | 2021
This report provides insights into wage trends across industries and unions to aid negotiators in preparing for bargaining.
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3 years ago
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.
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3 years ago
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.
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3 years ago
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?
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3 years ago
How unions can support workers facing retrenchment
A trade union checklist if retrenchments seem unavoidable.
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3 years ago
The implications of the Continental Free Trade Agreement for Africa’s development and the working class
Some key messages have emerged from our work with the trade union movement in Africa as it seeks to adopt strategies that promote developmental outcomes of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.
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3 years ago
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.
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3 years ago
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.
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3 years ago
National minimum wage: Domestic workers reached equalisation. Now what?
This month domestic workers earned the national minimum wage after a long struggle for equalisation. “What we now need is enough follow-through,” says Pinky Mashiane, Founder and United Domestic Workers of South Africa. Read more…
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3 years ago
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.
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