Mill workers have returned to work
Some are not happy with the settlement as they had hoped for at least 10 percent wage increment across the board.
UMZIMKULU Illovo Sugar workers went back to work on Monday after a two-week strike concerning a wage increase.
Sugar refining and milling workers downed tools and began a strike asking for a wage increase of 11 percent across the board, the stipulation of a 40-hour working week and a monthly housing subsidy of R800.
Last Friday a settlement agreement was reached and workers will start on Monday. The settlement agreement provides for an improved wage increment while the other disputed issues will be further negotiated and concluded by the end of this year.The wage increment is structured as follows; lowest band of grades will receive 10 percent which is between R595 and R635 a month. The middle band of grades will receive 9 percent, which is between R600 and R975 a month and the highest band will receive 8.75 percent which is between R1 080 and R1 415 a month.
“We are aware that some of our members in the Durban refinery of Tongaat-Hulett Sugar are not happy with the settlement as they had hoped for at least 10 percent wage increment across the board,” said Food and Allied Workers’ Union (FAWU) spokesman Katishi Masemola.
“We call on the employers to meaningfully engage with the unions on the other three dispute issues as they risk possible strike action in the next bargaining season in 2015,” he added.
Mthokozisi Mvuni of Umzimkulu Illovo Sugar said they were happy with the agreement as they had wanted a double digit increase. “We will still negotiate on the other issues with management,” he said.
Meanwhile, FAWU has declared a dispute with the South African Sugar Research Institute (SASRI) which involves 215 workers and Illovo Sugar’s seven plantations. Conciliation mediation processes are expected to follow in a few days from now.
