The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has called a strike starting with Thursday’s night shift countrywide at cement company Lafarge‚ demanding a salary increase of 13%‚ the union said.
“The strike will continue indefinitely‚” the NUM said via its Twitter account.
An estimated 800 employees are involved in the protected strike‚ Lafarge South Africa‚ a member of the LafargeHolcim Group‚ said in a statement.
The company South Africa is offering a salary increase of 7.5%. The union is also demanding a housing grant of R100‚000 while Lafarge South Africa is offering R50‚000.
NUM’s other demands include an acting allowance of 35% of the monthly basic salary‚ versus the 30% offered by the company‚ and a standard pay rate for workers doing the same job.
“We are committed to negotiating with our employees until an agreement is reached as soon as possible‚” said Unathi Batyashe-Fillis‚ Country Manager: Communications and Public Affairs.
“We have put contingency plans in place and will monitor the situation closely‚” Batyashe-Fillis said.
