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Dispute meetings which have been facilitated by commissioners failed to unlock the deadlock. These disputes meetings did not come close to addressing worker’s needs and we further noted the employer’s intransigence of using the inflation rate as a reference point to deny workers a living wage. It is the belief of CEPPWAWU that in using the inflation rate as a reference point employers maintain starvation wages and perpetuate the apartheid wage gap.

The summary of offers by these bosses are the following:

Sectors
Offer
1.    Pulp and Paper
6% ATB
2.    Sawmilling
6% ATB
3.    Fibre % Particle Board
6% ATB
4.    Pharmaceutical
6%  1st year, 2nd ,3rd, & 4th year CPI increase
5.    Industrial Chemical
6%  1st year, 2nd  & 3rd year Average CPI +1%
6.    Glass
6.5%  1st year, 2nd  year CPI + 1.5%
7.    FMCG
6% 1st year, 2nd & 3rd year CPI + 1% or 6.5% whichever is the greater.
 

CEPPWAWU further notes that National companies are offering increases which are below inflation. All social issues are not entertained including and not limited to maternity leave and hours of work.

CEPPWAWU is now mobilizing and balloting its members to support their demand for a living wage and to vigorously resist segregation in the workplaces and furthermore, CEPPWAWU wants to force employers to pay for Maternity Leave and other Social demands that the union has tabled and that they must be improved and be finalised during this year’s negotiations. CEPPWAWU has revised its wage increase demand to 9,7%.

Issued by CEPPWAWU