Solidarity Success: The Sun Comes Up on South African Negotiations
updated 1/27
More than 3,500 casino workers represented by the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union on strike since December 4 against hotel and casino group Tsogo Sun International celebrated a settlement today.
Initially demanding a 13 percent wage increase, the union lowered its demand to 9 percent, which Tsogo Sun was still unwilling to meet. One casino attempted to buy off workers by giving a 6.8 percent raise.
The union agreed to a 8.75 percent wage increase, increased shift allowances, and boosted home-ownership and educational assistance, but was unable to move the company to employ more permanent staff.
The settlement came after months of negotiations in which workers sought to see a larger piece of the pie and to put an end to disparate treatment of Black workers. Companies like Sun are reaping major profits as South Africa’s tourism industry booms.
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Union officials described the company’s attitude and tactics during the strike as arrogant union-busting. Private security and police harassed strikers, arresting 36 during the strike, including a union official and steward, and used racial slurs against workers. The status of those arrested remains unclear.
According to the Commercial Workers, company action was “reminiscent of years gone by.” Members fought the company “with the same energy that apartheid was confronted with,” according to their website.
In a release, the union thanked the thousands of unionists and supporters from all over the world who sent letters pressuring Sun management.
"SACCAWU and the striking workers wish to acknowledge and express our gratitude for the solidarity, on the picket-line, in the communities and internationally, that played an important role in keeping the unity and building the morale of striking workers throughout the strike."
