A registered trade union may authorise a picket by its members and supporters for the purposes of peacefully demonstrating in support of a protected strike or in opposition to a lockout. Unless there is a collective agreement regulating picketing rules, these must be determined by the conciliating commissioner if the parties cannot reach agreement on the rules.

A registered trade union may request the CCMA to determine picketing rules on an urgent basis if an employer has given notice of or commenced an unprotected lockout, or if the employer has failed to comply with a request not to implement unilateral changes to conditions of employment, or to restore the previous conditions, after the union has referred a dispute in this regard to the CCMA or bargaining council.

Regardless of the circumstances, no picketing is permitted unless picketing rules have been determined in accordance with the procedures set out above.

Please contact your nearest CCMA Provincial Office for further assistance.