Striking sugar industry workers marched in Durban on Wednesday while talks continued at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
The workers are demanding an 11 percent wage increase in addition to a 40-hour work week and an R800-a-month housing subsidy. They also want fixed-term and contract workers to become full-time employees.
Food and Allied Workers Union general secretary Katishi Masemola said yesterday that about 2 000 workers from Tongaat Hulett and other sugar mills around KwaZulu-Natal had joined the strike.
Masemola said that CCMA negotiations were proving to be positive but workers would have to wait until tomorrow for a final decision.
“Until then workers will be on strike and will continue to picket outside their employers’ gates.” Tongaat Hulett said it had offered an 8.5 percent wage increase.
The other major companies affected are Illovo Sugar and TSB Sugar Holdings.