Thousands of workers in Cape Town textile industry are out on strike. Footwear workers have joined in strike demanding an increment in wages according to SACTWU, Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union.
In the national strike 86% union members voted in favor of the strike action. Mr Andre Kriel, SACTWU General Secretary said, “The issue in dispute is the employers’ final wage offer of 6.25 percent, which has been rejected by our members. We demand a 9.5-percent package increase.”
The strike has resulted in footwear factories shut down. The strike also shut down power stations which left many parts of the country in darkness.
The strike has been going on at the electricity utility Eskom with no sign of subsiding.
The department of labor has warned that frequent strikes have an adverse effect on the economy and labor force.
