Despite a report in the Grocott's Mail last week saying that Makana Brick may have to close down after losing so much business since its workers went on strike, the workers' union and the company are still at a stalemate.
Despite a report in the Grocott's Mail last week saying that Makana Brick may have to close down after losing so much business since its workers went on strike, the workers' union and the company are still at a stalemate.
Various meetings have been held between Makana Brick and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in the past fortnight to negotiate a wage increase, but in a meeting yesterday the parties still failed to reach an agreement, according to NUM chairperson in Grahamstown, Siphiwo Thwani.
He said Makana Brick CEO Colin Meyer offered an increase of R1.25 this year, plus a five-cent increase that will be paid in September, but the workers rejected this offer. He also said that next year he'd increase the wages further, by 7.5%, but a R1.60 increase next year is what the workers and their union are looking for.
Meyer told us that he cannot afford that much because the R1.60 increase is 13.6%, Thwani said. We told him then that we can take this offer of R1.25 and return to work. We said after we have returned to work negotiations can continue for next year then, but he refused that and said he wants everything to be concluded now.
According to Thwani Meyer said that his offer would be valid until 1pm yesterday (Thursday).
Attempts to get comment from Meyer were unsuccessful because whenGrocott's Mail tried to get ahold of him he was apparently in a meeting.
