[imc-sa] GENERAL INDUSTRIAL WORKERS' UNION TO STRIKE

[Dale T. McKinley]

GENERAL INDUSTRIES WORKERS UNION OF SA


MELODY CENTRE
P. O. Box 1713

2ND FLOOR OFFICE NR 202
GERMISTON                 

159 MEYER STREET

GERMISTON, 1400

TEL: (011)873-4804

FAX: (011)873-6289

 

 

 

PRESS STATEMENT                        PRESS STATEMENT

 

Thousands of members of the General Industries Workers Union of South Africa
(GIWUSA) working in the chemical, glass, pharmaceutical, petroleum and fast
moving consumer goods industries, have decided to go on strike from the 16th
July 2007 in support of their wage demands.

 

Over the past months workers organised under GIWUSA and those of 3 other
trade unions have been negotiating wages and other conditions of employment
with employers under the auspices of the National Bargaining Council for the
Chemical Industry (NBCCI). In all the sectors of the NBCCI deadlocks have
been reached. GIWUSA and the other three trade unions are meeting on
Tuesday, 10th July 2007  to discuss the way forward. GIWUSA is going to
suggest that the trade unions embark upon strike action to secure decent
wage increases and improvements in the other conditions of employment.

 

The employers are offering wage increases from 6,3% to 7,5%  and the trade
unions are demanding 12%. The employers are also insisting that all other
conditions of employment remain the same. The wage offer of 6,3%  from the
glass employers is even below the current CPIX running at 6,4%.

 

GIWUSA members and other workers are determined to achieve a decent wage
increase in 2007. Workers and the rest of the working class have, over the
past years, become more impoverished, while those with wealth have become
even richer. Whilst workers have received wage increases more or less in
line with inflation, the bosses have made big profits and chief executive
officers (CEOs) have given themselves huge increases.

 

Recent research reveals that between 1995-2003 the real wages of unskilled
and semi-skilled workers declined and that the wage gap between workers and
managers widened drastically. Between 2002 - 2005, just over 50% of employed
workers earned less than R1500 per month in real terms. General inequality
continues to grow - with the poorest 50% of South Africa's population,
receiving around 12% of income.. In terms of households, about 70% of  now
live below the poverty line. 

 

For more information contact: 

John Appolis - 0734082674; Charles Phahla - 0828895768;  Office Tel: (011)
873-4804

 

 

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