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A full blown strike has been avoided in the Sugar Industry after the parties to the Sugar Industry Bargaining Council reached agreement on a 7.5% across the board increase which will be implemented with effect from 1 April 2017.

The parties reached deadlock on 31 May 2017 when the employers made a full and final offer of 6.5%. This has been unacceptable to our members hence we declared a dispute at the CCMA.

On 13 June the parties met with a Commissioner of the CCMA in an attempt to resolve the dispute but the dispute remained unresolved when the employers refused to move away from their final offer of 6.5%.

The wage dispute was finally settled on 4 July when a CCMA Commissioner was again involved to try and mediate between the parties. A settlement of 7.5% across the board has been reached with effect from 1 April 2017 and the issue of sick leave was referred to the bargaining council for further discussion.

Issued by UASA