/ 17 July 2006

Solidarity to meet with members over wage increase

Trade union Solidarity will hold a mass meeting of its members employed at petrochemicals group Sasol on Monday to decide on Sasol’s latest wage offer.

Solidarity’s members are currently voting on the offer, which was tabled by Sasol last Thursday.

“At present the vote is split between those who want to accept the wage offer and those who want to hold out for more,” the trade union said.

The trade union said it was confident that consensus on the way ahead would be reached after the meeting on Monday afternoon.

“We notified Sasol last week of our intention to go out on strike at 6pm today [Monday]. The company subsequently announced an additional 1,5% increase in the housing subsidy of members, over and above the 6,5% wage offer made in the bargaining council.

“Our members have been voting on the offer since Thursday and a decision on whether or not the strike will proceed will be taken this afternoon,” said Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans. — I-Net Bridge