Strike to go on for three days

AN IMPASSE over the end to a wage strike is set to go on for three days as workers aligned with the trade union SA Commercial Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (SACCAWU) continue to protest outside Sibaya Casino. They are demanding a wage increase of eight per cent.

According to Michael Farr, Group General Manager for Corporate Brand and Communications at Sun International, wage negotiations have been unsuccessful in meeting the demands set down by the union.

“Unfortunately, we have been unable to reach an agreement and, as a result, SACCAWU has given notice of the intention to implement a three-day strike action from 25 September until 5.45am on 28 September at some of our units. We would like to assure visitors that we have contingency plans in place and are making every effort to ensure visitors are not inconvenienced during this period.

“Sun International has offered a seven per cent total cost of employment increase for bargaining union employees. This excludes a proportion of insourced food and beverage employees who have already benefited from increases during the alignment process in April 2015 and whose next increase will be in July 2016. The proportion of food and beverage employees who did not get an increase in April 2015 will receive a seven per cent increase if they accept the current offer from the company. Seven per cent is higher than the average being offered to non-union employees,” he said.

He added SACCAWU was requesting, among other demands, an across-the-board increase of eight per cent (including those Food and Beverage employees that have just received increases) and an increase of 33 per cent in the guaranteed minimum working hours per month for all the permanent part time workers.

“We believe these demands are unreasonable given the current economic environment and challenging operating conditions. Sun International has issued SACCAWU with a lockout notice. This means that from 8am on Friday 25 September, SACCAWU bargaining unit employees will not be allowed to enter Sun International’s premises for any purpose unless they have first unconditionally accepted our final offer.

“Employees making use of our housing facilities will be allowed to enter those premises for the use of accommodation. Those employees who unconditionally accept our offer will be welcome to return to work and will receive an increase of 7 per cent backdated to 1 July 2015,” he said.

Farr said they would continue to engage with the union over a proposed solution.