About 1 000 workers at Sasol’s Secunda plant were on strike for a second day on Wednesday over a pay increase, the trade union Solidarity said.
Sasol has offered a 6,5% salary increase, and Solidarity’s members are demanding 10%.
The strike resumed at 6am on Wednesday, with workers still awaiting a response from management over a memorandum presented on Tuesday, said Solidarity spokesperson Reint Dykema.
The strike ”could go on for another day,” Dykema said.
Further grievances include workers’ concerns over safety conditions at the plant.
The union said on Tuesday that employees were tired of ”Sasol’s management style, which toys with the lives of workers”.
A gas explosion at the plant last Wednesday resulted in the deaths of seven people, and numerous injuries.
Sasol spokesperson Johan van Rheede confirmed that industrial action was still underway and said that production was not affected.
He did not know when Sasol would respond to the workers’ memorandum. – Sapa