7 August, 2013Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers' Union (SACTWU) has settled its national wage dispute in the cotton textile sector. As well as a 7% wage increase, the agreement also contains provisions for reducing carbon footprints.
After two rounds of compulsory conciliation a settlement was reached with the South African Cotton & Textile Processing Employers Association, under the National Textile Bargaining Council (NTBC). A 7% wage increase was reached for around 7 000 workers in 65 factories around the country. The settlement will be backdated to 1 July this year.
As a brand new provision, never included in past agreements, the parties have committed to engage at plant level on measures, initiatives and projects aimed at reducing companies' carbon footprints.
“This is the first ever SACTWU wage agreement that directly tackles issues relating to the ‘green economy'. We hope to build and expand on this in future agreements,” says General Secretary of SACTWU Andre Kriel.