Following several attempts CEPPWAWU has finally been able to force employers to return to the negotiation table to resolve the current strike. As it stands, employers have not put a substantial offer on the table. While they have now moved to 8%, we believe it is far too low to consider and our members have unanimously rejected that offer.
We are hopeful that when we meet there will be a better offer worth considering. This strike is currently affecting big national companies such as SAPPI, Mondi, PG Bison, Kimberly Clark, PetroSA, SASOL synthetic fuels and SASOL mines in Secunda and many other companies in the different sectors.
CEPPWAWU still stands by our demands of
- 11-13% wage increase
- Total ban on labour brokers
- Minimum wage of R6000
- Scope of agreement to cover all workers
Our members are very angry that employers are refusing to address some important issues such as number of working hours, shift allowance, compassionate leave and maternity leave. This is totally unacceptable and provocative.
As CEPPWAWU we are encouraged that employers in the different bargaining chambers are now agreeing to talk to us. These talks will be held under the auspices of the bargaining councils and we are confident that a solution will be found soon to end this impasse that has inconvenienced a lot of lives and affected the economy. But we wish to sternly warn that we are looking for honest negotiations that will mean employers moving closer to our demands.
Both parties agree that there must be a solution in the next meetings. Both parties will be presenting their revised mandates after consultation with their constituencies.
Employers in the Industrial Chemical, Petroleum, FMCG and Glass will all be meeting with us on Friday the 22nd July. We see this as a positive step towards resolution. Employers in the Wood and Paper, Sawmilling and Tissue and allied industries have refused to meet us. We condemn this arrogance.
Despite our efforts to persuade the pharmaceutical sector to meet on Friday they insist on meeting on Monday the 25th and 26th. We are however continuing to pressurize them to come to the table on Friday because we want a resolution fast. This means the employers in the pharmaceutical sector do not care about the lives of our people.
What angers us most is that some of the major companies affected such as Aspen Pharmacare and Adcock Ingram receive multimillion tenders from the government yet they are only prepared to give workers an insulting 6.5% wage increase. CEPPWAWU fully supports the call by the ANC to establish a state owned Pharmaceutical company that will be sensitive to the needs of our people and do away with these exploitative, insensitive profits oriented companies.
As we engage in these rounds of negotiations, we are hopeful that we will have an agreement. CEPPWAWU will be joined by other unions in the sectors; GIWUSA, SACWU and Solidarity. As worker organisations we believe we have put on the table legitimate and realistic demands. Our members remain mobilised and ready to continue with the strike action should they feel the employers are not responding positively. We demand nothing less than a living wage.
We are disturbed by reports in the daily papers that the Minister of Defence is proposing bringing in the army; we want to condemn these Apartheid tendencies which will anger our members. This is an unnecessary provocation to the workers who have so far been engaged in a very disciplined and peaceful legal strike action covered under the country's laws.
We are further investigation allegations that some companies in the petroleum sector are using riot squads Apartheid-style to brutalise our members and force them away from strike areas. These companies are Chevron, Sapref, Engen, Total, BP and Blanco. They have been very hostile and refused to negotiate strike and picket rules. We see this as direct provocation and total disregard for the laws of the country governing industrial actions.
In the meantime, CEPPWAWU can confirm that in the Wood and Paper Sector workers in the sawmilling will be resuming strike action as of today 21 July. These workers are among the most vulnerable, under-paid and exploited workers in the South African economy.
The workers in that sector are paid a poverty wage of R1600 per month for the hard work they do. Some of the companies affected by the unresolved strike will continue to be affected since wood is the raw material needed for production of paper, chip boards, etc. it will also affect a number of mining houses. We appeal to employers to heed workers demands.
Statement issued by Simon Mofokeng, CEPPWAWU General Secretary, July 21 2011
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