The wage agreement reached between Cosatu’s transport union (Satawu) and the road freight employers’ association this week will set a benchmark for other labour unions organising in various sectors of the country’s economy, according to Jackie Kelly, research associate at industrial relations group Andrew Levy & Associates.
The nine-day strike by more than 30 000 truck drivers belonging to four labour unions, including Satawu, ended late on Wednesday after the union accepted the employers’ new offer of an 11% wage increase.
Although the agreement fell 2% short of Satawu’s initial demand, the above-inflation increase is a major victory for workers, given the global economic crisis.
In addition to the 11% increase, Satawu managed to persuade the employers to agree to the introduction of a danger allowance and a four-month maternity leave benefit, with a job guarantee on return to work, which will apply to all women in the industry after six months of employment.
Said Satawu spokesperson Tabudi Ramakgolo: “There is no doubt that the workers have won this battle. The agreement translates into a 31% increase for workers on the minimum. This excludes the 11% increase.”
Kelly said the agreement will serve as a precedent for wage negotiations in other sectors.
Cosatu recently resolved to press for higher pay increases during this year’s round of wage negotiations, despite the current difficult economic conditions.
The labour federation’s public sector unions and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said this week they will push for double-digit increases when negotiations with employers start in few weeks’ time.
NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said the union will forward its demands to the Chamber of Mines early next week.
“I can’t disclose the figure now, but we are not looking at an inflation-related increase. We are looking at real wage increases for our workers. A lot has been said about the global financial crisis, but the fact of the matter is that gold remains the safe haven for investors while the demand for coal is ever increasing.
“We will look for a significant increase for our workers this year,” said Seshoka.
Thulas Nxesi, general secretary of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union, said public sector unions will demand between 12% and 15%.
“As much as we understand the difficulties brought by the global financial meltdown, we should also take into consideration the declining living standards of the workers.
“If you want to attract young people into the teaching profession you need to provide competitive salaries,” said Nxesi.