The hospitality sector trade union Hospersa said its members are preparing for a country-wide strike at South African National Parks.
In a statement on Wednesday, Hospersa said that the parties could not reach a wage agreement after it declared a dispute.
The Union has vowed to fight for better remuneration and improved working condition of its members at SANParks,” said Hospersa’s Noel Desfontaines.
He said the parties deadlocked with SANParks offering a 6% wage increase while Hospersa’s mandate from its members is at 9%.
Desfontaines said that he matter was referred to the CCMA but the conciliation process remained unresolved and a certificate of outcome declaring that the Union can embark on industrial action strike as the next course of action to end the impasse.
“Already at the start of negotiations this year, it became evident that parties would deadlock,” said Hospersa General Secretary Noel Desfontaines. “SANParks remained inflexible and unwilling to pay an increase reflective of their reported profit, opening negotiations with an initial offer of a mere 4%. Our members have no choice but to exercise their right by embarking on a protected strike as per certificate of outcome from the CCMA,” he said.
Desfontaines said that the upcoming industrial action would affect operations at all of the 21 national parks managed by SANParks across South Africa.
“Aside from the Kruger National Park, the other parks that will be affected include the Agulhas National Park, Mokala National Park, Namaqua National Park, Mapungubwe National Park and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park,” he said.
“We have made numerous communication efforts including writing to the SANParks Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to try and avert the industrial action. To date, his office has not responded to our communication,” said Desfontaines.
