Representatives of striking security guards and industry employers were meeting at the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) on Monday afternoon in the latest efforts to end the pay dispute.
”They are now meeting,” South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) spokesperson Ronnie Mamba said.
Satawu and the Transport and Allied Workers’ Union of South Africa set an 11% increase as their goal this year against the 8,3% average guards from other unions agreed on, and have been on strike since March 23.
So far meetings at the CCMA have seen the pay offer rise to a three-year deal with a 9,25% pay hike in the first year, 7,25% in the second year and 7% in the third year.
Fifty seven security guards have died since a strike in the industry began in March, the chairperson of a provident fund for the guards confirmed on Monday.
Kevin Derrick, acting chairperson of the Private Security Industry Provident Fund, confirmed a report in Beeld newspaper, saying this was based on a study of newspaper reports since the strike began on March 23.
Derrick told the South African Press Association that in anticipation of claims to the fund, which provides death benefits to the families of guards, Derrick set about monitoring media reports on the strike.
He took cuttings from The Star, The Sun, The Citizen, The Mercury, the Daily News, the Pretoria News, Beeld, the Sunday Tribune, the Cape Times and the Argus.
He verified and cross-referenced the information contained in the articles, noting injuries, damages and deaths and also telephoned security companies to confirm information.
Derrick said that by law employers must contribute to the fund, which has 195 000 members out of 236 000 guards registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority. Some smaller companies have exemptions but the dependants of a deceased guard are still entitled to make a claim, even if his employer did not contribute to the fund.
Derrick said he would continue to verify the information and would do further checks with the fund to come to a final figure.
The information will also be shared with the South African Police Service.
He added that the security industry was also considering whether to establish another separate fund to help the guards’ next of kin.
”It’s basically part of our social responsibility. They have been murdered because they wanted to come to work. They were murdered in support of customers they care about and provided a service to.”
He said that about 92% of the guards were not on strike.
The guards who have died have been thrown from trains, shot or been subjected to severe physical attacks.
The Democratic Alliance said it has submitted a private member’s Bill to Parliament, aimed at holding trade unions civilly liable for damage or loss suffered as a direct result of union members’ strike-related activities. — Sapa