The following KZN statistics were provided to the Members of the Committee: . There were 340 000 referrals since 1996. . There are approximately 20 000 new cases per year. . Thirty thousand cases were scheduled and heard. . Fourteen thousand cases were settled. . There were about 50 pre-dismissal arbitrations. . One thousand two hundred back to work agreements were concluded. . Two thousand and fifty jobs were saved. The following challenges were identified: . There is a rise in unprotected strikes in the mining, farming and other sectors in the Newcastle region. . Many employees believe they era exonerated from compliance with Labour Relations Act (LRA) procedures and this placed additional pressure on commissioner resources in dealing with unprotected strikes in Northern