Unions secure pay rise for South African footwear workers
The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) has won above-inflation pay rises for footwear and leather workers.
SACTWU signed two wage agreements under the umbrella of the National Bargaining Council of the Leather Industry of South Africa (NBCLI).
Members in the general goods and handbags leather sector will receive a 7% wage increase.
The agreement was concluded after a wage dispute with employers who are represented by the Association of South African Manufacturers of Luggage, Handbags and General Goods.
In addition to the current paid family responsibility leave (FRL) provisions, an additional day of unpaid FRL will be granted to those workers in this sector who wish to take it.
SACTWU members in the footwear sector will also receive a 7% wage increase. This settlement was concluded after two rounds of wage negotiations with footwear employers represented by the Southern African Footwear & Leather Industries Association (SAFLIA).
SACTWU, an IndustriALL affiliate, will now submit the new wage agreements to the South African Department of Employment and Labour. Once it is signed by the country's employment and labour minister, these agreements become legally binding on all employers and all workers in both these sectors, nationally.
André Kriel, SACTWU general secretary, said: “The strategic ways in which SACTWU’s collective bargaining teams approach negotiations allow for the maintenance of living wages and better working conditions in the textile, garment, shoe and leather sectors. It shows the clear advantages of centralised bargaining. Extending the agreements allow non-union members to benefit as well, thus strengthening solidarity and building union power.”
