South Africa: Striking Lafarge South Africa employees affiliated to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) have returned to work after a 12-day strike, according to Lafarge South Africa. The industrial action involved disputes on several issues, including a salary increase.
"We are pleased that we have been able to negotiate solutions that benefit our employees. While our operations were not grossly impacted, we are happy to announce that we are running at full capacity," said Unathi Batyashe-Fillis, Country Manager for Communications and Public Affairs at Lafarge South Africa.
Lafarge reported that an agreement had been reached on an 8% salary increase effective from 1 January 2016, a commitment to tighten salary gaps per job category by the end of April 2016 and a one-off fixed housing grant of US$4640 per employee to acquire or build a house. The grant would, after two years of implementation, be increased by a sum equal to the annual average inflationary rate for workers.
Around 800 NUM affiliated employees demanding initially a 13% raise and a US$3310 housing grant, according to Reuters. The union has confirmed that the deal has been accepted.