/ 31 July 2005

Striking steel workers accept wage offer

About 2 000 workers at Highveld Steel ended their strike on Saturday after accepting their employer’s 6% wage increase offer, trade union Solidarity said.

”Members of Solidarity decided … to accept the 6% wage increase and 5% increase in housing allowances, offered by the management of Highveld Steel,” Solidarity spokesperson Dirk Hermann said in a statement.

The workers began striking on Wednesday to demand an 8% salary increase as well as a 5% housing allowance increase.

Solidarity members expressed their satisfaction with the offer, saying it is in line with the average increase in the industry. — Sapa