Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act No. 66 of 1995)Chapter IV : Strikes and Lock—outs67. Strike or lock—out in compliance with this Act |
| (1) | In this Chapter, "protected strike" means a strike that complies with the provisions of this Chapter and "protected lock—out" means a lock—out that complies with the provisions of this Chapter. |
| (2) | A person does not commit a delict or a breach of contract by taking part in— |
| (a) | a protected strike or a protected lock—out; or |
| (b) | any conduct in contemplation or in furtherance of a protected strike or a protected lock—out. |
| (3) | Despite subsection (2), an employer is not obliged to remunerate an employee for services that the employee does not render during a protected strike or a protected lock—out, however— |
| (a) | if the employee"s remuneration includes payment in kind in respect of accommodation, the provision of food and other basic amenities of life, the employer, at the request of the employee, must not discontinue payment in kind during the strike or lock—out; and |
| (b) | after the end of the strike or lock—out, the employer may recover the monetary value of the payment in kind made at the request of the employee during the strike or lock—out from the employee by way of civil proceedings instituted in the Labour Court. |
| (4) | An employer may not dismiss an employee for participating in a protected strike or for any conduct in contemplation or in furtherance of a protected strike. |
| (5) | Subsection (4) does not preclude an employer from fairly dismissing an employee in accordance with the provisions of Chapter VIII for a reason related to the employee"s conduct during the strike, or for a reason based on the employer"s operational requirements. |
| (6) | Civil legal proceedings may not be instituted against any person for— |
| (a) | participating in a protected strike or a protected lock—out; or |
| (b) | any conduct in contemplation or in furtherance of a protected strike or a protected lock—out. |
| (7) | The failure by a registered trade union or a registered employers" organisation to comply with a provision in its constitution requiring it to conduct a ballot of those of its members in respect of whom it intends to call a strike or lock—out may not give rise to, or constitute a ground for, any litigation that will affect the legality of, and the protection conferred by this section on, the strike or lock—out. |
| (8) | The provisions of subsections (2) and (6) do not apply to any act in contemplation or in furtherance of a strike or a lock—out, if that act is an offense. |
| (9) | [Section 67(9) deleted by section 8 of Act No. 6 of 2014]. |