Representatives of security guards and employers will return to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration on Thursday, hoping to seal a deal to end a long pay strike.
Until then, guards will be informed of the draft settlement, which will replace the previous offer signed earlier this year by 14 of the 16 unions representing guards.
The 14 unions accepted an average 8,3% increase, but the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) and the Transport and Allied Workers’ Union of South Africa (Tawusa) have been holding out for 11% since March 23.
The latest offer is a 9,25% increase for the first year and 7,25% for the second and third years of the agreement.
Tawusa spokesperson Tsietsi Mpyane said the new offer was better than April’s agreement for the first year, ”a problem” for the second year and ”an improvement” on the third year.
”We need to make a deal breaker because the strike went on for a long time.”
Most of the employers and other unions had signed the master copy of the new offer, he said, but in terms of procedure, Satawu and Tawusa would present the offer to their members before proceeding.
He added: ”Hopefully we will sign this agreement on Thursday.”
Satawu spokesperson Ronnie Mamba echoed this, saying that shop stewards and regional office bearers would present the offer to workers on Tuesday.
”There is a willingness by all parties to see an end to the dispute. We are taking this draft to the regional leaders,” said Mamba.
Mamba said that in terms of the draft, the lowest-paid grade — E in area five — will be phased out and moved to area four.
”This effectively means an automatic increase of R232 (or 19,89%) for the lowest-paid security guards.”
Other details include:
Female employees can enjoy the full maternity benefit through the Unemployment Insurance Fund through employer and employee contribution.
Demands relating to overtime allowance, meal intervals, study leave, long-service benefits and nightshift allowances have been met by the employers.
Written reports on mandates are expected by the close of business on Wednesday, Mamba said.
National Security and Unqualified Workers’ Union president Moses Memela said that in his personal opinion the new offer would give guards ”a little bit more”.
He hoped the new agreement would help all the parties.
”I am praying that we will reach a settlement on Thursday.”
SAfm radio reported Congress of South African Trade Unions’ president Willie Madisha as saying that the union body would encourage workers to accept the deal. — Sapa