THOUSANDS of sugar industry workers went on strike today to demand an 11 percent salary increase, the first strike action in the industry since 1997.
Currently, the lowest-paid sugar workers receive R5 500 a month. According to Statistics SA, inflation was at 6.1 percent last month.
Workers at Umfolozi Sugar Mill (USM) joined the national strike.
Falling under the centralised Sugar Industry Bargaining Council, ‘USM respects the council’s wage negotiating process and agreed to picketing rules’, the company announced in a press release.
As USM is a small, independent miller with limited influence in the negotiations. The mood on site at Mtubatuba is ‘peaceful and constructive’.
‘It will be in the best interests of the USM employees and the business for the current dispute to be resolved at the centre as soon as possible,’ said Dr Adrian Wynne, Chief Executive Officer at USM.
The Food Allied Workers Union (Fawu) which planned the strike with two other unions, also requested a 40-hour working week, a monthly housing subsidy of R800 and permanent employment of fixed-term contract staff.
According to a statement by Tongaat Hulett Communications Executive Michelle Jean-Louis, employees embarked on a protected strike as management in the South African Sugar Industry Bargaining Council who represent employees from the sugar manufacturing and refining sectors, were unable to reach an agreement.
‘In light of the strike, operations at Tongaat Hulett’s South African sugar business units have stopped. Given that Tongaat Hulett has spare capacity, the milling season can, if required, be extended to ensure that production for the year is not impacted.
‘Furthermore, contingency plans to ensure minimal disruption to the supply of sugar to the market are in place,’ Jean-Louis said.
