wages | Labour Research Service

Five essential benchmarks for effective bargaining preparation

The Bargaining Benchmarks report is for trade union negotiators who want to be well-informed and effective in bargaining processes.

Bargaining Benchmarks | September 2024

by LRS GDP / inflation / unemployment rate / wage bargaining / wages

A resource for trade union negotiators.

4 months ago

The ILO offers official guidance on living wages

by Global Labour Column decent standard of living / decent work / living wage / wages

A living wage should allow a worker to lead a decent life.

4 months ago

Wage settlements at industries and bargaining councils

by George Mthethwa AWARD / bargaining councils / collective bargaining agreements / wages

In Q2 2024, median wage increases ranged from 4% to 8%, with Agriculture leading at 8.5%. The median increase across all bargaining councils was 6%, against a 5.1% inflation rate.

Industry and bargaining councils wage settlements | Q2 2024

by LRS AWARD / bargaining councils / collective bargaining agreements / wages

In Q2 2024, median wage increases ranged from 4% to 8%, with Agriculture leading at 8.5%. The median increase across all Bargaining Councils was 6%, against a 5.1% inflation rate.

5 months ago

Key benchmarks for effective bargaining

by George Mthethwa GDP / inflation / unemployment rate / wage bargaining / wages

The benchmarks that will prepare worker leaders for bargaining processes.

Bargaining Benchmarks | June 2024

by LRS GDP / inflation / unemployment rate / wage bargaining / wages

Bargaining Benchmarks is a resource for trade union negotiators in South Africa.

Industry wage settlements | Q1 2024

by LRS AWARD database / collective bargaining agreements / wages

The mining and quarrying sector recorded the highest percentage increase in median wage in Q1 of 2024, at 9%.

6 months ago

Industry wage settlements | Q1 2024

by George Mthethwa AWARD database / collective bargaining agreements / wages

A snapshot of wage settlements in selected industries.

6 months ago

Power cuts have hit the labour market hard

by The Conversation energy / green transition / loadshedding / manufacturing / power cuts / unemployment / wages

The biggest toll has been on jobs, according to a new research.

9 months ago

The basic benchmarks a negotiator needs for the bargaining process

by George Mthethwa GDP / inflation / labour relations / unemployment rate / wage bargaining / wages

View the latest LRS Bargaining Benchmarks report.

Bargaining Benchmarks | March 2024

by LRS GDP / inflation / labour relations / unemployment rate / wage bargaining / wages

The basic benchmarks a negotiator needs for the bargaining process.

10 months ago

Five essential resources for union negotiators

by LRS AGREED database / bargaining benchmarks / inflation / national minimum wage / sector reports / wage bargaining / wage calculator / wages

Refresh your knowledge and skills on wage bargaining using LRS resources created for trade union negotiators.

12 months ago

Bargaining Benchmarks | December 2023

by George Mthethwa GDP / inflation / unemployment rate / wage bargaining / wages

Bargaining Benchmarks helps trade union negotiators to enter negotiations as informed and strategic role players.

Bargaining Benchmarks | December 2023

by LRS GDP / inflation / unemployment rate / wage bargaining / wages

A resource for trade union negotiators in South Africa.

Bargaining Benchmarks | September 2023

by LRS bargaining benchmarks / collective agreements / GDP / inflation / unemployment rate / wages

A resource for trade union negotiators in South Africa.

1 year ago

Bargaining Benchmarks | September 2023

by George Mthethwa bargaining benchmarks / collective agreements / GDP / inflation / unemployment rate / wages

A resource for trade union negotiators in South Africa.

1 year ago

Labour laws every shop steward should know and use to represent workers

by LRS conditions at work / labour laws / Negotiator's Guide / wages

Using the law to support bargaining strategies.

1 year ago

Tackling the huge pay gap in the public sector

by George Mthethwa collective bargaining / inflation / public sector / wage gap / wages

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?

Industry wage settlements | Q1 2023

by LRS AWARD database / collective agreements / wages

Median wage increases for various industries, sample agreements on the Actual Wage Rates Database (AWARD) of the LRS.

2 years ago

Bargaining Benchmarks | March 2023

by George Mthethwa GDP / inflation / unemployment rate / wage negotiation / wages

This report provides union negotiators with the benchmarks to enter bargaining processes as informed role players.

Bargaining Benchmarks | March 2023

by LRS GDP / inflation / unemployment rate / wage negotiation / wages

Benchmarks to help union negotiators enter negotiations as informed players.

2 years ago

RESOURCE: Bargaining Benchmarks | December 2022

by LRS collective bargaining support / gross domestic produce / inflation / negotiate / unemployment rate / wages

A resource for trade union negotiators in South Africa.

Bargaining Benchmarks | December 2022

by LRS collective bargaining support / gross domestic produce / inflation / negotiate / unemployment rate / wages

A resource for trade union negotiators in South Africa.

2 years ago

3% wage increase: What does it mean for the lowest-paid worker in the public sector?

by George Mthethwa bargaining benchmarks / collective bargaining / strike / wages

“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.

2 years ago

Bargaining Benchmarks | October 2022

by George Mthethwa bargaining benchmarks / collective bargaining support / gross domestic produce / inflation / negotiate / unemployment rate / wages

Five benchmarks to help trade union negotiators enter bargaining processes as informed role players.

Bargaining Benchmarks | October 2022

by LRS collective bargaining support / gross domestic produce / inflation / negotiate / unemployment rate / wages

Five benchmarks to help trade union negotiators enter bargaining processes as informed role players.

2 years ago

Bargaining Benchmarks | July 2022

by George Mthethwa collective bargaining support / gross domestic produce / inflation / negotiate / unemployment rate / wages

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.

Bargaining Benchmarks | July 2022

by LRS collective bargaining support / gross domestic produce / inflation / negotiate / unemployment rate / wages

LRS Bargaining Benchmarks is for trade union negotiators. Our series of benchmarks will help the negotiator to enter into bargaining as an informed role player.

LRS snapshot: Industry wage settlements | Q1 2022

by LRS AWARD database / collective bargaining agreements / collective bargaining support / wages

The mining and quarry sector recorded the highest percentage increase on actual wages in Q1 of 2022, at 8%. View our snapshot of wage settlements in selected sectors of South Africa’s economy.

2 years ago

Industry wage settlements | Q1 2022

by George Mthethwa AWARD database / collective bargaining agreements / collective bargaining support / wages

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.

3 years ago

What you need to know about negotiating better conditions at work

by LRS collective bargaining support / conditions of employment / labour law / minimum wages / Negotiator's Guide / occupational health and safety / wages

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.

3 years ago

National minimum wage: Domestic workers reached equalisation. Now what?

by Nelly Nyagah AWARD database / domestic workers / minimum wages / national minimum wage campaign / wages

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…

3 years ago

How to build a wage demand and calculate percentages and money amounts

by LRS collective bargaining support / inflation / negotiate / Negotiator's Guide / wage bargaining / wages

This wage bargaining guide is for negotiators in all kinds of bargaining environments.

3 years ago

11 steps you should take to prepare for wage bargaining

by LRS collective bargaining support / negotiate / Negotiator's Guide / wage bargaining / wages

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.

The Negotiator’s Guide Chapter 6 | An introduction to wage bargaining

by LRS collective bargaining / Negotiator's Guide / wages

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.

3 years ago

Bargaining Benchmarks | December 2021

by George Mthethwa bargaining benchmarks / collective bargaining support / gross domestic product / growth domestic produce / inflation / negotiate / unemployment rate / wages

Five bargaining benchmarks every trade union negotiator should know. The benchmarks will help you to enter bargaining processes as an informed role player.

3 years ago

Bargaining Benchmarks | September 2021

by George Mthethwa collective bargaining support / gross domestic produce / inflation / negotiate / unemployment rate / wages

Our series of benchmarks will help trade union negotiators to enter into bargaining processes as informed role players.

Inflation Monitor | June 2021

by LRS collective bargaining support / CPI / inflation / inflation monitor / inflation rate / negotiate / wages

The headline annual inflation rate was 4.9% in June 2021, compared with 5.2% in May 2021.

3 years ago

Bargaining Monitor – Wage outcomes in the past six months

by George Mthethwa bargaining monitor / collective bargaining support / negotiate / wages

Despite the state of the economy and the Covid-19 health crisis, unions have managed to negotiate above-inflation wage increases.

3 years ago

Trade union collective bargaining strategies for 2021

by LRS bargaining strategies / collective bargaining support / conditions of employment / covid-19 / negotiate / south africa / wages

The LRS trade union collective bargaining strategy input looks at the minimum wage and settlement trends; the impact of Covid-19 on the economy and collective bargaining; the 2021 bargaining round; and bargaining for the future.

LRS collective bargaining input for 2021

by LRS bargaining strategies / collective bargaining support / conditions of employment / negotiate / south africa / trade unions / wages

Our trade union collective bargaining strategy input for 2021 looks at the minimum wage and settlement trends; the impact of Covid-19 on the economy and collective bargaining; the 2021 bargaining round; and bargaining for the future.

Worker rights: Wages and conditions of employment

by LRS conditions of employment / shop stewards / wages / workers' education / workers’ rights

A guide to finding out who is covered by bargaining council agreements, sectoral determinations and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.

3 years ago

Worker rights: Wages and conditions of employment

by LRS conditions of employment / shop stewards / wages / workers' education / workers’ rights

A shop steward’s guide to finding out who is covered by bargaining council agreements, sectoral determinations and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.

4 years ago

Wage calculator – New LRS online tool for workers

by LRS collective bargaining support / inflation / wage negotiations / wages

Our new wage calculator will tell you how much a percentage increase is an amount of money and help you understand the effect of inflation on the wage increase.