Petroleum strike ends

"The strike has been settled with an 8.5% increase across the board for workers," Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers (Ceppwawu) national policy coordinator, John Appolis, said on Thursday, 28 July 2011.

According to Appolis, workers will get a month salary of R4400 from R4000. Pregnant women will also get maternity leave. The increment is backdated to 1 July.

Ceppwawu said the agreement was signed at 2pm.

This comes after parties involved in the matter - Ceppwawu; the National Petroleum Employers' Association (NPEA); South African Chemical Workers Union (Sacwu); General Industries Workers' Union of SA (Giwusa) and Solidarity - met under the auspices of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

Workers downed tools on 11 July, leading to fuel shortages in provinces such as Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

Last week, an offer of between 8 and 10% was put on the table. Initially, employers had offered a wage increase of between 4 and 7%.

Workers were demanding a wage increase of between 11 and 13% and minimum wages of R6000 and transport allowances, among others.

Appolis said other matters such as labour brokers would be discussed at another forum. "Workers are expected back at work tomorrow [Friday] with the latest being on Monday," he explained.

"Today, the unions announced that the workers mandated them to accept the offer and all parties signed the settlement agreement, in full and final settlement of substantive wages and terms and conditions of employment for the period 2011/12," said CCMA director Nerine Kahn.