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Johannesburg - Strikes cost workers R407m in wages last year, the labour department reported on Tuesday in its annual Industrial Action Report for 2010.
There were 74 work stoppages during the year, resulting in the loss of 20 million man-days. This was the highest number recorded in the past five years, which had averaged 71 strikes a year.
The 25-day public service strike, involving more than one million workers, was the main driver of this increase. By contrast, a strike by public sector workers in 2009 only involved 29 000 employees.
Strikes at Transnet, Prasa, Northern Platinum and Dis-Chem were also significant. Together with the public sector strike, they accounted for 95.7% of the total working days lost in 2010.
Ninety percent of the man-days lost were as a result of strikes between June and September last year. Wage settlements last year tended to be above inflation, with the median wage settlement at nine percent.
More strike-hit employers resorted to scab labour, with 40% doing so in 2010 compared to 28% in 2009. Eighty percent of disputes complied with the Labour Relations Act.
Disputes over wages, bonuses, and other compensation remained the main cause of strikes, but in most cases there was more than one factor leading to the decision to stop work.
In a statement the department called on union leaders "to demonstrate leadership and help curb" the violence that characterised some recent strikes.
Although it was still compiling statistics for 2011, the department said it expected 2011 to show an improvement.
There were 74 work stoppages during the year, resulting in the loss of 20 million man-days. This was the highest number recorded in the past five years, which had averaged 71 strikes a year.
The 25-day public service strike, involving more than one million workers, was the main driver of this increase. By contrast, a strike by public sector workers in 2009 only involved 29 000 employees.
Strikes at Transnet, Prasa, Northern Platinum and Dis-Chem were also significant. Together with the public sector strike, they accounted for 95.7% of the total working days lost in 2010.
Ninety percent of the man-days lost were as a result of strikes between June and September last year. Wage settlements last year tended to be above inflation, with the median wage settlement at nine percent.
More strike-hit employers resorted to scab labour, with 40% doing so in 2010 compared to 28% in 2009. Eighty percent of disputes complied with the Labour Relations Act.
Disputes over wages, bonuses, and other compensation remained the main cause of strikes, but in most cases there was more than one factor leading to the decision to stop work.
In a statement the department called on union leaders "to demonstrate leadership and help curb" the violence that characterised some recent strikes.
Although it was still compiling statistics for 2011, the department said it expected 2011 to show an improvement.
