Mr.Andre Kriel,General Secretary,the Southern Africa Clothing&Textile Workers'Union(SACTWU)has informed that the SACTWU has set itself a target to strike ballot 40000 clothing industry workers,following a wage dispute with clothing sector employers.We have exceeded our target.A total of 43,104 workers were balloted.The votes have been counted and the results verified:84%voted in favour of strike action,14%against and 2%of votes were spoilt.
SACTWU has thus received a solid mandate for a national strike in the clothing industry.
However,it appears that national strike action may now be averted.We were advised by yesterday evening that all the clothing employer associations,except the Natal Clothing Manufacturers Association(NCMA)have now agreed to the trade union's final wage demands.
The Cape Clothing Association(CCA),Eastern Province Clothing Manufacturers'Association(EPCMA),the Free State&Northern Cape Clothing Manufacturers Association(FSNCCMA),the Northern Decentralised Clothing Manufacturers'Association(NDCMA),the Transvaal Clothing Manufacturers'Association(TCMA and the Coastal Clothing Manufacturers'Association(CCMA)have all confirmed that they will settle on the union's final demands.
We welcome their decision as wise.Our demands have always been reasonable and affordable.We regard the NCMA rejection as bizarre,as all its individual member companies have already agreed to implement the wage increases.
Metro area workers will get a 6.5%wage increase and non-metro area workers will receive increases ranging between 7.2%and 8.5%,backdated to 1st September 2012 when the increases were actually due.
Yesterday we convened shop stewards council's throughout the country.We have decided to suspend strike action until we have a final signed agreement in our hands.We hope to finalise a written agreement during the course of next week.
