It’s back to work for Ceppawu members
Two-year wage agreement ends three weeks long strike in the petroleum sector.
Workers affiliated to the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers’ Union (Ceppwawu) are expected to get back to work today after a three weeks-long strike.
This comes after Ceppawu reached a two-year wage agreement with the employer on Wednesday. The reached agreement stipulates that workers will get a 7% increase in the first year and a 1.5% in the second year.
Initially, workers were demanding a 10% increase when they downed tools three weeks ago. Ceppawu chief negotiator Jerry Nkosi confirmed the two-year agreement and added that the issue of shifts is yet to be discussed at task team level.
When the strike started three weeks ago, there was fear that it could cause delays in the delivery of fuel to petrol stations but there were no major disruptions reported.
Mxolisi Ratsibe who is the chairperson of the National Petroleum Employers Association said the agreement reached was a fair one. “We are quite impressed that the union has finally come to the party and we concluded a deal,” said Ratsibe.
