Abstract
This article critically considers the application of and necessity for the right to strike, especially regarding employees that are employed in an essential service. The South African position is examined and compared to other countries around the world, but the focus is mainly on the United Kingdom.
 The article shows that South Africa's current labour legislation (especially regarding essential services) is in theory good, but that it is applied and enforced poorly in spite of the provisions contained in the Labour Relations Act and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996. This became evident in the 2007 public workers' strike in which many essential services employees took part.
 The United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India, France and Kenya all have different ways of dealing with strikes and essential services. Some of these countries' approaches are similar to South Africa's, but in each there is some difference that could be useful in the South African situation. Through these comparisons it becomes clear that the right to strike is important in many countries around the world, but that each country's essential services (or services that can be classified as essential) are equally important. Every country places at the very least some limitation on the right of essential services employees to strike.In conclusion this article states that the South African Labour Law is not perfect and can be improved by means of comparison. This improvement is of vital importance to the lives, health and personal safety of every individual in the country.
Highlights
DIE IMPAK EN GRONDWETLIKHEID VAN DIE REG OM TE STAAK MET BETREKKING TOT NOODSAAKLIKE DIENSTE – 'N VERGELYKENDE
Uit hierdie artikel sal dit blyk dat werknemers wat noodsaaklike dienste verrig en die vakbonde waarvan hierdie werknemers lede is, nie noodwendig altyd hul verpligtinge nakom of verantwoordelik optree nie
Afgesien van al die statutêre bepalings is daar ook morele en etiese kwessies wat by hierdie optrede na vore kom soos of die reg om te staak swaarder weeg as 'n ander se lewe en of medemenslikheid en of basiese kennis van die waarde van lewe deel vorm van die ongeskrewe vereistes van 'n noodsaaklike dienste werknemer se werk
Summary
In 'n land soos Suid-Afrika, met 'n jong demokrasie, problematiese verlede en politieke- en regskwessies, is dit 'n absolute noodsaaklikheid dat alle SuidAfrikaanse burgers nie net bewus moet wees van hulle regte nie, maar ook van hul verpligtinge en verantwoordelikhede. Die wet erken die reg van werknemers om te staak, maar beperk dit ook tot 'n sekere mate,[8] byvoorbeeld dat werknemers in noodsaaklike dienste nie mag staak nie. Die Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika 1996 (hierna die Grondwet) stel dit ook duidelik dat elke werker die reg het om te staak.[10] Die Grondwet bepaal dat nasionale wetgewing enige reg in hoofstuk twee van die Grondwet mag beperk, mits dit aan die bepalings van artikel 36 van die Grondwet voldoen.[11] Verder word die reg om te staak internasionaal erken en vorm deel van menige moderne grondwette, soos byvoorbeeld dié van Meksiko, Swede en Frankryk.[12]. In die gevolgtrekking word 'n aantal voorstelle gemaak ten einde die regposisie in Suid-Afrika te versterk
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