Lafarge South Africa, a member of the LafargeHolcim Group, yesterday tabled its final offer to striking workers and is awaiting a response.
Lafarge South Africa is offering an 8% salary increase and has also significantly increased the housing grant it will make available to employees.
Around 800 NUM-affiliated employees embarked on a strike on Thursday, 11 February 2016, in support of an 8.5% wage increase, a R100 000 housing grant, salary adjustments and a 35% acting allowance.
Lafarge South Africa is offering a 30% acting allowance and has proposed that a task team made up of Lafarge South Africa management and NUM members tackle the issue of salary adjustments. The task team will report back within a specified period of time.
The strike is now in its fifth day.
Lafarge South Africa’s operations remain unaffected by the strike, but contingency plans are in place while negotiations between Lafarge South Africa and NUM continue.
The industrial action has been marred by isolated incidents of intimidation and assault. Talks stalled on Friday after striking workers blockaded the entrance to the company’s Lichtenburg plant with burning tyres and rocks and prevented the plant’s management from leaving.
The negotiations resumed after strikers were persuaded to allow management to leave and continued throughout the weekend.
“We tabled our final offer to the union yesterday (SUN, 14 February 2016),” confirmed Unathi Batyashe-Fillis, Country Manager: Communications & Public Affairs. “The ball is now in NUM’s court.”
Batyashe-Fillis added that managers are on hand at all the sites closely monitoring developments.
“Lafarge South Africa’s main priority is to ensure the safety of both the employees who are striking and those who are not. The company is committed to negotiating with its employees so that an agreement may be reached as soon as possible. As it relates to our operations, we are still well placed to meet our customers’ orders,” said Batyashe-Fillis.
More information from Unathi Batyashe–Fillis, Tel: +2711 657 1109 / Mobile: + 27 82 8721120
Email: unathi.fillis@lafargeholcim.com
