South African trade union membership decreased by half a million in the year to end March, with 10 unions deregistering over the course of the year.
Membership fell almost 11% to 3.96 million, according to statistics the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), the biggest drop in union membership since 2004/5 when 934 135 trade union members left.
Between 2004 and 2005, 39 trade unions deregistered with 3 913 956 working days lost in both years due to industrial action.