Strike Barometer
Strikes tell us much about the state of the class struggle,
including how militant and organised workers are,
the main issues they are mobilising around and which workers are leading struggles against the bosses.
Strike statistics and analyses are critical for anyone interested in building the workersâ movement and working class struggle.
Select a year:
74
Strikes in 2024
37
Protected strikes 2024
37
Wildcat strikes 2024
25
Workplace-related action 2024
Note: More strikes may have occurred than those recorded, particularly short-term strikes by non-unionised workers that are not reported on official union social media pages or union WhatsApp groups. This barometer is produced in the spirit that even incomplete strike information is more useful than none.
Strikes by Sector
Strikes by Province
Protected vs Wildcat
Strikes per Month
Strikes by Union
Top 10 Reasons for Striking
Click on an entry for more details
| Start Date | End Date | City | Province | Employer | Sector | Union | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11-14 | Johannesburg | Gauteng | Arcelor Mittal South Africa | Metal | NUMSA | Protected | |
| 2024-11-05 | 2024-11-05 | Johannesburg | Gauteng | Pikitup/City of Johannesburg | Local Government | Workers | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-10-30 | 2024-10-30 | Cape Town | Western Cape | National Government | All | SAFTU, COSATU | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-10-29 | 2024-10-29 | Alberton | Gauteng | Department of Employment and Labour | Food Processing | SWF | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-10-29 | 2024-10-29 | Johannesburg | Gauteng | Department of Health | Health | NEHAWU | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-10-24 | 2024-10-24 | Centurion | Gauteng | Denel | Manufacturing | NUMSA | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-10-21 | 2024-10-23 | Johannesburg | Gauteng | Lupo Bakery | Wholesale & Retail | FAWUSA | Protected |
| 2024-10-18 | 2024-10-18 | Durban | KwaZulu-Natal | Department of Employment and Labour | Textile | SACTWU, COSATU | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-10-08 | 2024-10-08 | Polokwane | Limpopo | Great North Transport | Transport | Workers | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-10-08 | Springs | Gauteng | Mjayeli Security Services | Private Security | Workers | Wildcat | |
| 2024-10-07 | 2024-10-07 | National | Nationwide | Government and Private Sector | All | Cosatu | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-10-03 | 2024-10-21 | Gqeberha | Eastern Cape | DSV Transport and Logistics | Transport | SAEWA | Wildcat |
| 2024-10-02 | 2024-10-02 | eThekwini | KwaZulu-Natal | Zululand Anthracite Colliery | Mining | NUM | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-09-24 | 2024-09-24 | Cape Town | Western Cape | Security companies | Private Security | KAWU, NUMSA, SATAWU, AWU | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-09-17 | 2024-09-17 | Cape Town | Western Cape | Uber, Bolt, inDrive | E-hailing | WCEA | Wildcat |
| 2024-09-16 | Pretoria | Gauteng | BMW | Metal | NUMSA | Wildcat | |
| 2024-09-02 | 2024-09-03 | Mdantsane | Eastern Cape | Amatola Water Board | Water Board | SAMWU | Wildcat |
| 2024-08-30 | 2024-09-03 | Cape Town | Western Cape | Golden Security Services | Private Security | Workers | Wildcat |
| 2024-08-29 | Mahikeng | North West | 400 security companies | Private Security | AWU, KAWU, NUMSA, SANSAWF, SATAWU | Wildcat | |
| 2024-08-28 | 2024-08-28 | Johannesburg | Gauteng | Mister Sweet | Food Processing | SWF | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-08-27 | 2024-08-27 | Cape Town | Western Cape | Commercial farms | Agriculture | WFP | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-08-26 | Springs | Gauteng | Frio Foods | Food Processing | NUFBWSAW | Protected | |
| 2024-08-22 | 2024-08-22 | Johannesburg | Gauteng | City of Johannesburg | Local Government | SAMWU | Wildcat |
| 2024-08-22 | Makhanda | Eastern Cape | Makana Municipality | Local Government | SAMWU | Wildcat | |
| 2024-08-22 | Emakhalathini | KwaZulu-Natal | Zululand Anthracite Colliery | Mining | NUM | Protected | |
| 2024-08-20 | 2024-08-20 | Cape Town | Western Cape | Uber; Bolt | E-hailing | WCEA | Wildcat |
| 2024-08-19 | 2024-11-01 | Wadeville | Gauteng | Mister Sweet | Food Processing | SWF | Protected |
| 2024-08-16 | Gqeberha | Eastern Cape | Heineken | Food Processing | FAWU | Protected | |
| 2024-08-15 | 2024-08-15 | Johannesburg | Gauteng | Registrar of Labour Relations | Food Processing | SWF | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-08-15 | 2024-08-18 | Tshwane | Gauteng | City of Tshwane | Local Government | SAMWU | Wildcat |
| 2024-08-13 | Cape Town | Western Cape | Unknown | Private Security | Workers | Wildcat | |
| 2024-08-07 | 2024-08-07 | Johannesburg | Gauteng | City of Johannesburg | Local Government | SAWPA | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-07-31 | 2024-08-15 | Krugersdorp | Gauteng | Rhodes Food Group | Food Processing | SAICWU | Protected |
| 2024-07-22 | 2024-08-02 | Pretoria | Gauteng | South African Bureau of Standards | Regulatory Bodies | NEHAWU | Protected |
| 2024-07-19 | eThekwini | KwaZulu-Natal | eThekwini Municipality | Local Government | MATUSA | Wildcat | |
| 2024-07-17 | Kimberley | Northern Cape | Helen Bishop home | Non-profit | HOSPERSA | Wildcat | |
| 2024-07-15 | 2024-07-17 | Makhanda | Eastern Cape | Makana Municipality | Local Government | SAMWU | Wildcat |
| 2024-07-15 | Cape Town, East London, EThekwini, Johannesburg, Gqeberha | Nationwide | Menzies Aviation | Aviation | NUMSA | Protected | |
| 2024-07-07 | 2024-07-26 | Midrand | Gauteng | Bombela Operating Company (Gautrain) | Transport | NUMSA | Protected |
| 2024-07-04 | 2024-07-11 | Pretoria | Gauteng | Ford | Metal | NUMSA | Protected |
| 2024-06-28 | Sandton | Gauteng | Ribas Manufacturers | Food Processing | GIWUSA | Protected | |
| 2024-06-25 | 2024-06-26 | Msunduzi | KwaZulu-Natal | Msunduzi Municipality | Local Government | SAMWU, IMATU | Wildcat |
| 2024-06-21 | Johannesburg | Gauteng | Grindrod Logistics Ltd | Transport | TASWU | Protected | |
| 2024-06-20 | 2024-06-24 | Boksburg | Gauteng | Core Group | Wholesale & Retail | SWF | Protected |
| 2024-06-14 | National | Nationwide | Cash-in-transit Employers' Associations | Private Security | MTWU | Protected | |
| 2024-06-13 | National | Nationwide | G4 Cash Solution Management | Private Security | SATAWU | Protected | |
| 2024-06-12 | 2024-06-12 | Chatsworth | KwaZulu-Natal | Mafoko Security; Calvin and Family Security | Private Security | Workers | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-06-10 | 2024-06-10 | Kroondal | North West | Sibanye Stillwater | Mining | AMCU | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-06-07 | 2024-06-07 | Sandton | Gauteng | SA Steel Mills | Metal | NUMSA | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-06-03 | 2024-06-05 | Kroondal | North West | Sibanye Stillwater | Mining | AMCU | Wildcat |
| 2024-05-26 | 2024-05-27 | Bisho | Eastern Cape | Eastern Cape Provincial Health Department | Provincial Government | NUPSAW | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-05-25 | 2024-05-25 | Germiston | Gauteng | Gauteng Provincial Government | Provincial Government | Workers | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-05-23 | 2024-05-23 | Cape Town | Western Cape | National Government | Sex Workers | SWEAT | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-05-22 | Meyerton | Gauteng | SA Steel Mills | Metal | NUMSA | Wildcat | |
| 2024-05-20 | eThekwini | KwaZulu-Natal | SG Convenience | Wholesale & Retail | DPYUSA | Protected | |
| 2024-05-17 | 2024-05-17 | Cape Town | Western Cape | Western Cape Provincial Department of Health | Provincial Government | NUPSAW | Protected |
| 2024-05-16 | 2024-05-16 | Johannesburg | Gauteng | Gauteng Provincial Social Development Department | Co-operatives | Workers | Wildcat |
| 2024-05-15 | Johannesburg | Gauteng | Pikitup | Local Government | DEMAWUSA | Wildcat | |
| 2024-05-11 | 2024-05-11 | West Rand | Gauteng | Sibanye-Stillwater | Mining | NUM | Protected |
| 2024-05-09 | Rustenburg | North West | Rustenburg Local Municipality | Local Government | SAMWU | Protected | |
| 2024-05-07 | 2024-06-03 | Rustenburg | North West | Rustenburg Local Municipality | Local Government | SAMWU | Protected |
| 2024-05-07 | 2024-05-08 | Tshwane | Gauteng | City of Tshwane | Local Government | SAMWU | Wildcat |
| 2024-05-02 | 2024-05-02 | East London, Qonce, Peddie, Queenstown, Butterworth, Dutywa | East London | Eastern Cape Department of Transport | Transport | Workers | Wildcat |
| 2024-05-01 | 2024-05-01 | Soweto | Gauteng | Sibanye-Stillwater; Tripartite Alliance | Mining | NUM | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-05-01 | 2024-05-01 | eThekwini | KwaZulu-Natal | KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government | Fishing | Workers | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-05-01 | 2024-05-02 | Johannesburg | Gauteng | Gauteng Provincial Government | Provincial Government | NUPSAW | Protected |
| 2024-04-26 | 2024-04-29 | Cape Town | Western Cape | Uber, Bolt, inDrive | E-hailing | WCEA | Wildcat |
| 2024-04-23 | 2024-04-23 | Pietermaritzburg | KwaZulu-Natal | KwaZulu-Natal provincial government | Provincial Government | NUPSAW | Protected |
| 2024-04-23 | 2024-04-23 | Tshwane | Gauteng | Various private security companies contracted by City of Tshwane | Private Security | Workers | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-04-22 | 2024-04-22 | Mahikeng | North West | North West provincial Department of Health | Provincial Government | DENOSA | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-04-19 | 2024-04-19 | Gqeberha | Eastern Cape | Eastern Cape Department of Education | Provincial Government | Workers | Protected |
| 2024-04-19 | 2024-05-17 | eThekwini | KwaZulu-Natal | Dube Trade Port Corporation | Transport | NEHAWU | Protected |
| 2024-04-17 | 2024-04-17 | Johannesburg | Gauteng | Sakhile Ezweni, Black Industrial Africa | Private Security | NASAWU, FEDUSA | Wildcat |
| 2024-04-16 | 2024-04-19 | Meyerton | Gauteng | SA Steel Mills | Metal | NUMSA | Wildcat |
| 2024-04-15 | 2024-04-17 | Hazyview | Mpumalanga | Mpumalanga Department of Education | Provincial Government | SADTU, NEHAWU | Wildcat |
| 2024-04-12 | 2024-04-12 | Gqeberha | Eastern Cape | Eastern Cape Department of Health | Provincial Government | NUPSAW | Wildcat |
| 2024-04-11 | 2024-04-11 | Gqeberha | Eastern Cape | Nelson Mandela Bay municipality | Local Government | Workers | Wildcat |
| 2024-04-10 | 2024-04-17 | Johannesburg | Gauteng | Mjayeli Security; Tshedza Protective Services; Ally's Counter Force security companies, all contracted by the Gauteng Department of Health | Provincial Government | SACSAAWU | Wildcat |
| 2024-04-04 | 2024-04-11 | Pietermaritzburg | KwaZulu-Natal | KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health | Provincial Government | Workers | Workplace-related action |
| 2024-03-20 | 2024-03-20 | Gqeberha | Eastern Cape | Nelson Mandela Bay municipality | Local Government | Workers | Wildcat |
| 2024-03-14 | 2024-03-14 | Polokwane | Limpopo | Global Oil Company | Chemical | NUPSAW | Protected |
| 2024-03-13 | 2024-03-13 | Gqeberha | Eastern Cape | Nelson Mandela University | Education | NEHAWU | Protected |
| 2024-03-10 | Midrand | Gauteng | Rosond | Metal | NUMSA | Protected | |
| 2024-03-08 | 2024-03-08 | East London | Eastern Cape | Provincial Department of Health | Health | NUPSAW | Protected |
| 2024-02-27 | 2024-03-13 | Durban | KwaZulu-Natal | eThekwini Municipality | Local Government | SAMWU | Wildcat |
| 2024-02-26 | 2024-03-14 | Gqeberha | Eastern Cape | Nelson Mandela University | Education | NEHAWU | Protected |
| 2024-02-26 | 2024-03-18 | All cities | National | The Building Company (BUCO) | Wholesale & Retail | BWAWUSA | Protected |
| 2024-02-23 | Several towns | Limpopo | RCL Foods | Food Processing | GIWUSA | Protected | |
| 2024-02-20 | Thabazimbi | Limpopo | Sylvania Platinum Mines | Mining | NUMSA | Protected | |
| 2024-02-19 | 2024-02-19 | Polokwane | Limpopo | Polokwane municipality, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment | Provincial Government | Workers | Wildcat |
| 2024-02-15 | Pretoria | Gauteng | University of Pretoria | Education | NEHAWU | Protected | |
| 2024-02-15 | Gqeberha | Eastern Cape | Dora Nginza public hospital | Health | Workers | Wildcat | |
| 2024-02-14 | eThekwini | KwaZulu-Natal | uShaka Marine World | Local Government | SAMWU | Protected | |
| 2024-02-08 | Cape Town | Western Cape | University of Cape Town | Education | UCTEU | Protected | |
| 2024-02-07 | Gqeberha | Eastern Cape | Livingstone and Dora Nginza public hospitals | Health | Workers | Wildcat | |
| 2024-02-01 | 2024-02-03 | Johannesburg | Gauteng | Metrobus | Transport | SAMWU | Wildcat |
| 2024-01-29 | 2024-04-08 | Welkom | Free State | Matjhabeng Municipality | Local Government | SAMWU | Protected |
| 2024-01-12 | Kariega | Eastern Cape | Provincial Department of Health | Health | NEHAWU | Wildcat | |
| 2024-01-10 | 2024-01-10 | Durban | KwaZulu-Natal | eThekwini Municipality | Local Government | Workers | Wildcat |