Johannesburg - The Food and Allied Workers' Union (Fawu), which apparently represents some 85 000 workers across various food sectors, is set to go out on strike in the grain industry.
This threat comes at a time when the country’s farmers are still experiencing the effects of the worst drought in more than a century, which has pushed the price of staple foods higher. The drought also means SA will need to import five million tons of grain, potentially putting strain on ports.
In a statement, the union says workers are also battling with the high cost of living, and employers are offering increases far below their demands.
The unions, which represent 9 500 workers employed in the grain industry, are demanding a 9 percent wage increase, or an additional R550 a month per employee across the board, whichever is the greater.
Inflation is 6.2 percent.
They have been in talks with the Grain Bargaining Council since February, says Fawu.
As the talks have deadlocked, a strike will start on Friday, it says.
Workers are also demanding an annual guaranteed 13th cheque as well as a housing allowance of R850.
Grain workers also demand better provident and funeral benefits joint or shared minimum contribution of 8 percent and 2 percent as well as for wage disparities to be addressed though “a properly and scientific objective exercise”.
These negotiations cater primarily for those employed by the main eight employers (OVK, VKB, SUIDWES, Senwes, Grain Field Chickens, GWK, NWK and OBARO).
Workers in mainly the North West; Limpopo; Mpumalanga; Gauteng; Free State and Northern Cape Provinces will participate in the strike. Fawu says it remains open and willing to engage in any efforts towards resolving the impasse. The council was not immediately available for comment.
IOL