The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) of South Africa confirmed a strike by workers at the cement producing company Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) at Hercules in Pretoria over wage increases. Workers embarked on a protected strike over the company’s refusal to bargain on wage increases. This comes after the NUM gave PPC a notice to strike on the 4th April 2019 and workers commenced with the industrial action on the 9th April 2019.
The NUM is demanding a salary increase of 12 per cent across the board, a housing allowance of R1,500 (106.5 USD) and transport allowance for shift workers of R750 (53.27 USD) to be backdated to 1st October 2018.
“We are determined to fight for our rights as workers. Workers are determined to proceed with the strike in support of their demands. We signed a collective agreement granting us organizational rights as a majority union, so the company should meet our demands," said NUM Branch Chairperson Surprise Baloyi.
PPC is the leading supplier of cement in southern Africa. The company produces aggregates, metallurgical-grade lime, burnt dolomite, and limestone.
The NUM demands the company to close the wage gaps that exist within PPC. The company management is creating wage gaps instead of closing them.
Crecentia Mofokeng, Regional Representative of BWI Africa and Middle East Region, expressed BWI’s full support to the strike called by NUM and called for PPC to respect workers’ rights and ensure decent wages are paid to the workers.