Sharks Board negotiations back to the streets

WAGE negotiations between the KZN Sharks Board and its employees has gone back to the streets. On Tuesday morning Sharks Board workers took to the streets of uMhlanga saying they’ve had it with their employers ‘merry-go-round’ moves.

The renewed strike action comes amidst the search for the missing KZN Sharks Board employee who is believed to have drowned when the boat he and his four colleagues were in capsized at Newark Beach, Richard’s Bay.
The incident happened last Wednesday when the men were servicing shark nets – the bodies of two of the men were recovered while the other two are recovering in hospital.

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After weeks of downing tools, the workers returned to work two weeks ago after MEC of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs, Sihle Zikalala committed to resolving the wage issues between the two parties.

According to chief negotiator Mxolisi Cekwayo negotiations were supposed to convene this week, however Sharks Board management has requested to suspend them.

“We met with management at the CCMA. They are saying they want to stop negotiations until we bury our colleagues who died in Richards Bay. As workers we are saying no to that. Our late colleagues died knowing that we are fighting for better wages. We will bury them with dignity and respect but negotiations must continue,” said Cekwayo.

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Sharks Board communications officer Harry Mbambo confirmed that as management they did requested more time.

“In solidarity with family, friends and colleagues of our later workers we requested to suspend the wage negotiations. As management we are not saying this is the end of the road, we are just urging our workers to allow us time to bury their colleagues before going back to the negotiating table,” he said. 

The workers are demanding a 13 per cent wage increase, and R1000 for danger allowance.