Strike looms after wage negotiations deadlock

A strike looms at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), following a wage negotiation deadlock, the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) said yesterday.

“Nehawu is preparing for a strike at the Agricultural Research Council after wage negotiations deadlocked. The strike is set to start tomorrow [today],” general secretary Zola Saphetha said.

He said an internal dispute meeting was convened on April 24, but parties failed to break the wage deadlock. Nehawu referred two disputes to the CCMA (Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration).

The disputes were on matters of mutual interest (wage dispute) and on interpretation and application of agreement relating to payment of 10th percentile minimum salary adjustment by the employer as per CCMA settlement signed in 2015.

“During the negotiations, organised labour revised its offer from 10% down to 7.3%, while management remained stagnant on its final offer of a mere 5%.”

Saphetha said part of remedies proposed by the union was for the employer to consider a sliding scale increase due to the fact that the across-the-board arrangement benefited senior management more than employees at the bottom of the salary scales.

“This equitable and progressive proposal was flatly rejected by the employer.” – ANA