Sasol workers down tools

Staff at its Secunda operation down tools, demanding a minimum wage of R12 500.

Secunda - Sasol workers affiliated to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) are determined to continue striking over wages.

The workers say they will continue to strike until the company presents a proposed revised offer to its workers.

Close to 1 600 workers in Secunda, Mpumalanga, downed tools on Thursday after the union could not come to an agreement with Sasol.

Jimmy Gama, Amcu’s national treasurer, told Independent Media that workers have several demands. However, first and foremost is a salary of R12 500.

"The minimum wage currently for workers is R7 300. We are also demanding a housing and transport allowance."

Inflation is currently 6 percent.

Gama said the union had been granted a strike certificate by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.

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"The strike is ongoing until our demands are met. The strike began today and will continue until the company presents a plan."

Meanwhile, Alex Anderson, spokesman for Sasol, said with the ongoing strike at its plant in Secunda, its mining unit will be affected.

"Operations continue as normal with no impact on production but on the mining business."

Anderson said Sasol has put a contingency plan in place to ensure that safe, reliable and stable operations are maintained during the time of the strike. "We will continue to proactively monitor the situation."

Sasol recently warned that its earnings for the full-year to June were set to drop. It said headline earnings for the year were expected to decrease by between 10 percent and 30 percent, compared with the same period last year because of impairments.

Earnings per share were expected to fall by as much as 73 percent, Sasol said.

LABOUR BUREAU