Strikers finally reach agreement with lodge
Striking Pestana Kruger Lodge employees returned to work last Wednesday after they managed to come to an agreement with the hotel's management.
MHLATHI KOP – The striking employees were demanding a 10 per cent salary increase, to be treated as human beings, and that black people be introduced to the hotel’s management.
When Corridor Gazette spoke to the striking workers, they mentioned they were worried about the strike and wanted it to end as soon as possible.
They were only protesting because they felt they had no other option.
The workers went on strike from August 1 and had vowed to stay outside the lodge’s gates until their demands were heard and addressed.
On Tuesday afternoon last week the hotel management approached the protesters and called them to the table to initiate negotiations.
According to a reliable source, “They saw that we were not going to back down on our demands, especially the 10 per cent salary increment one. We even said to them that if we can’t agree on that one we would rather go back outside the gate, until we get it.”
This paper has learnt that the two parties reached an agreement which favoured the employees perfectly, giving them their 10 per cent.
“That was on top of our demands. We have agreed on 10 per cent for a period of one year, and also agreed that it will be re-evaluated after the agreed period. Our other demands are also being heard and we have been told that they will be looked into,” explained the employee who appeared to be happy to be at work and with the signed agreement between the parties.
Numerous attempts to get comment from Pestana management failed.
