South African unions step up footwear strikes
After last week negotiating a pay rise for leathergoods workers, the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU) has announced it will join a smaller footwear union in strikes which commenced on June 2.
SACTWU wants a 10% rise in wages but employers are offering 7.75% – the level agreed by leathergoods workers.
A meeting will be held tomorrow (12 June) in Durban, after intervention by the leather bargaining council to persuade the parties to reconvene.
Employers will be represented by their employer association, SAFLIA (South African Footwear & Leather Industries' Association).
“We welcome this pro-active approach from the leather bargaining council,” said SACTWU’s Andre Kriel. “We will attend tomorrow's meeting with an open mind.”
Over 7,000 workers employed in 163 footwear factories walked out on Monday.
