Thirteen security guard unions will embark on a two-day strike in six provinces on Thursday and Friday, in support of higher wages and better working conditions — including the right to lunch breaks and using a toilet without being charged for deserting a position of duty.
The unions represent about 90 000 of 280 000 registered security guards in South Africa.
The strike follows failed wage negotiations which started in October last year. Unions are demanding an 11% across-the-board increase and an additional 4% increase for the lowest paid workers.
They are also demanding four months of fully-paid maternity leave.
Security guards will strike on Thursday and Friday in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.
They will punctuate their strike with marches to the local offices of the departments of labour and safety and security.
Security guards in the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape provinces will do the same on Monday and Tuesday, when the security guards from KwaZulu-Natal again strike.
”If no settlement is reached by then, we will take a national action for April 3 … until there is an agreement on all issues,” the unions said at a press briefing at the offices of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union in Johannesburg on Wednesday. — Sapa