Six more unions will join the cleaning sector strike, the National Service and Allied Workers’ Union (Nasawu) said on Sunday.
“Nasawu and five other trade unions will join the strike by thousands of contract cleaners on Monday,” said spokesperson Sam Ndou in a statement.
This was after talks broke down between unions and employers, mediated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), on August 3.
The Hotel, Liquor, Catering Commercial, and Allied Workers’ Union of SA (Hotelicca) and the Professional Transport and Allied Workers’ Union of SA went on strike last Monday.
The strike has affected cleaning at old age homes, private hospitals, shopping centres, and government institutions.
The unions demand a minimum salary of R4200 and hourly wage increases of 6% for area A employees, and 6.5% for those in area C.
Sympathy
Ndou said strikers had been shown sympathy by the students, academics and the workers’ solidarity committee of the University of Witwatersrand.
Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven said on Friday that the organisation supported the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu), the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu), and six other unions’ decision.
“Their conditions of employment remain pathetic,” Craven said.
Other demands included a 13th cheque, an eight-hour working day, and for members in rural areas to be paid the same as their urban colleagues.
“This is a slave-wage industry,” Satawu said on Friday.
“Our members are justified in calling for an improved offer from the employers.”
Cosatu urged its members and all South Africans to support the cleaning sector workers. — Sapa