Exploring the traumatic experiences of South African strike managers during strikes

Abstract

Exploring traumatic experience of South African strike managers during strikes is a reality many organisations face. Strikes are common phenomena found in South African organisations and are actions that strike managers face daily. The Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 also gives employees the right to strike. It is found that strike managers in South Africa experience psychological trauma during strike action and it is the organisations responsibility to implement programs such as interventions, policies and structures for strike handlers to deal with their psychological trauma experiences. Psychological trauma is a concept well understood by strike managers and who also experience psychological trauma during and after strike action has taken place within the organisation. Psychological trauma experienced by strike managers are those of violence, harm, stress, fear, feeling threatened, behavioural change, emotional reactions, loss of control, self-guarding.