Union settles strike but sugar workers won't work

Workers at Tongaat Hulett's refinery in Clairwood are refusing to go back to work despite an agreement being signed between union bosses and company management. Image: Tongaat Hulett

The workers were due to return to work on Monday (9 June) even though they had told the union they were not happy with the settlement in which the lowest paid workers would receive a wage increase of between 8.75% and 10%.

The unions and the bosses had agreed that outstanding issues such as housing subsidies‚ reduction of working hours per week from 43 to 40 hours‚ and the permanent employment of thousands of contract workers would be negotiated between now and December.

Striking workers stood outside Tongaat Hulett's plant in Clairwood‚ south of Durban‚ refusing to resume their duties.

They asked to speak to Fawu officials to voice their displeasure at the agreement that was supposed to bring the two-week strike to an end. One worker‚ who asked not to be named‚ said they had expected their unions to take up their battle with the bosses.

Worker dissatisfaction with agreement

"We have worked for this company for years and years but we are paid peanuts. We had thought they would get us at least the housing subsidies and the reduction of the working week. There is no incentive for us to return to work because our conditions are still the same‚" he said.

Fawu organiser Simphiwe Dhlomo said the union would talk to the workers to get their side of the story.

"We believe that we did the best under the circumstance. Remember that talks with the employers are still ongoing and we believe that we will be able to achieve more concessions.

"We have heard that some workers are not happy about the settlement. But we will talk and engage these workers so that we can all find common ground‚" said Dhlomo.

Tongaat Hulett spokeswoman Michelle Jean-Louis could not be reached for comment. However‚ she had earlier told journalists that most of the workers had returned to work‚ with only the Clairwood refinery experiencing problems.