A 13-hour-long negotiation between Soccer World Cup construction workers and employers resulted in ”a framework” for an agreement on Thursday.
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (Safcec) concluded their meeting at 11pm.
”There is a framework of an agreement that we will give to our members,” said NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka, declining to elaborate.
Until their members responded positively the strike, which had brought Soccer World Cup related projects around the country to a halt, would continue.
Seshoka would not say what Safcec, representing employers, had offered.
Safcec negotiator Joe Campanella also declined to reveal details.
Earlier on Thursday Seshoka said Safcec had increased its wage offer to 11%, from 10,4%. The union was holding out for 13%.
Seshoka claimed 11% was not enough to meet the union’s goal of increasing the lowest paid worker’s monthly salary to above R3 000.
”The fact of the matter is that we are far away from each other.”
The meeting to resolve the dispute was convened by Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana, and was being attended by Safcec representatives, the union and 2010 Local Organising Committee. – Sapa