LIMPOPO – The 192 employees of Kulani Timbers in Modjadjiskloof who have recently protested, demanding better wages have returned to work after the company’s management and Chemical, Energy, Paper Printing, Wood and Allied Workers Union (CEPPWAWU) reached an agreement that they will get a minimum wage of R3 400 until next year, May, when an official minimum wage will be implemented.
The union Spokesperson, Lucky Ndou, said from May 2018, the workers will get R3 600, which will be R100 more than what they requested.
Spokesperson for the company, Harry Kruger, said he is happy the workers and management have finally agreed in principle. He said although the strike had a negative impact on production, they are happy that everything has gone back to normal. The agreement follows a two-month long negotiation process that started on 24 May.
According to Lucky Ndou, the workers had gone on strike demanding a R300 wage increase as it was agreed with the employer in the bargaining council earlier this year. This after the employer took a decision to give the workers an increase of R275 across the board, which was an impeachment of the agreement reached in the bargaining council.
Ndou said in terms of the agreement, the workers were supposed to get a R300 wage increase, an additional three leave days over the current 15 days they were getting a year and a R438 monthly bonus which will be paid at the end of the year.
