Workers in the footwear sector strike over wages

RUSTENBURG - Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers' Union (Sactwu) members in the footwear sector went on strike on Monday, the union said.

"Our trade union commenced a national strike ballot in the footwear manufacturing sector on Monday last week. This secret ballot was completed on Friday [past] and 86% of our members voted in favour of strike action," said  general secretary Andre Kriel.

Workers are demanding 9. 5% wage increase against the employer's offer of 6.25%. Wage increases in the footwear sector were due on July 1 2018.

"We are working jointly with the National Union of Leather & Allied Workers [Nulaw). As at 13h00 today [Monday], our strike survey showed that close to 10,000 footwear workers have embarked on national wage strike action..." 

He said the survey showed that most footwear factories have been shut down.

- African News Agency (ANA)

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