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September 19, 2020
Date: 14 September 2020
Media Release: Immediate
SACTWU DECLARES NATIONAL WAGE DISPUTE IN THE CLOTHING SECTOR
The COSATU-affiliated Southern African Clothing and Textiles Workers’ Union (SACTWU) has declared a national wage dispute in the domestic clothing sector. The dispute has been declared against the following employer associations: South African Apparel Association (SAAA), Apparel and Textile Association of South Africa (ATASA), Transvaal Clothing Manufacturing Association (TCMA), Eastern Province Clothing Manufacturing Association (EPCMA), and SA Clothing Manufacturers Association (SACMA). The dispute involves about 60 000 workers.
This dispute follows after 3 rounds of formal wage negotiations could not deliver a settlement between the parties. The negotiations were conducted under the auspices of the National Bargaining Council For The Clothing Manufacturing Industry (“the Council”) , via a virtual platform. It is the first time in the decades-old collective bargaining relationship between the parties that wage negotiations are conducted via a virtual platform. This is due to COVID-19 lockdown conditions.
SACTWU has formally submitted the dispute to the Council on Thursday last week. The clothing bargaining council is now required to process this wage dispute in terms of the constitutional provisions of the council, commencing with a compulsory conciliation process.
Issued by
Andre Kriel
General Secretary
SACTWU
For more comment or information, please contact SACTWU’s 1st National Organising Secretary (and our clothing industry National Sector Co-ordinator), Bonita Loubser, on cell number 082 800 7142.
