SACCAWU members still not back at work at Sun Meropa

POLOKWANE – South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU) members at Sun Meropa are still not back at work as strike action continues.

This after the union refused to accept Sun International’s offer.

The union embarked on a national strike demanding an 8% salary increase across the board, which includes employees in the food and beverage services. The union also demands an improvement of working hours from 120 to 160 hours.

SACCAWU national negotiator, Simphiwe Nikiwe, said the strike started on 25 September and was supposed to end on 28 September, but Sun International started a lockout on the same day the union started its strike.

“The company is offering a 7% increase, excluding the food and beverage services. The company will only allow employees to return to work on condition they accept the company’s offer,” said Nikiwe.

Because the union and the company could not come to an agreement, the union took the matter to the Labour Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

“We are awaiting feedback from the Labour Court regarding the matter. In the meanwhile we advise our members not to accept the company’s offer,” Nikiwe said.

Michael Farr, group general manager for communications at Sun International, confirmed the company’s lockout.

“The union exercised its right to go on strike and now we are applying our legal right to go into a lockout. We have been in discussions with the union for six months.

“Initially, the union demanded an 11% increase and came down to 8%, but our final offer is 7% across the board,” Farr said.