The Makana Brick strike, which started more a month ago yesterday, has ended after the workers and the company reached an agreement.
The Makana Brick strike, which started more a month ago yesterday, has ended after the workers and the company reached an agreement.
Siphiwo Thwani, chairperson of the National Union of Mineworkers in Grahamstown, said in meetings they had with the company's management this week they finally signed an agreement yesterday (Wednesday). He said they had signed a two-year agreement and this meant next year there would be no wage negotiations between the two parties.
For this year the money will go up by R1.25 plus five cents that will be added on 3 September to make it R1.30. Next year we agreed on a 7.7% wage increase, said Thwani. He said they would resume work on Tuesday.
Thwani said the union's East London-based organiser Moses Mhlaba had instructed him to sign the agreement providing all the workers were happy with it. Thwani said they then sat down and read the agreement and the workers said they were happy. They then went to the company management to sign it. "It has been a long time since we were on the strike and both sides have lost. I would like to thank the contract workers for their support and also the community," said Thwani.
Public relations manager for Makana Brick, Cathy Braans confirmed the signing of the agreement yesterday and said production had resumed yesterday. The company's CEO, Colin Meyer, was unavailable for comment.
