One of the nine security sector trade unions that have rejected a five percent wage offer from employers, has warned of a “crippling strike” in the security sector if negotiations do not bear fruit.
The African National Security and Allied Workers' Forum (SANSAWF) concluded its national congress in Pretoria with re-elected general-secretary, Anna Mashigo, saying despite the revised wage offer, a strike is imminent.
Before the five percent wage offer was tabled, employers had previously offered an increase of 1.1 percent to security workers.
"As much as we would want to avoid a strike, you can see that it is imminent. We are not going to allow employers to intimidate us. We are negotiators of course, trying to avoid a strike, but if there is a push, we will go on strike," she said.
The nine private security unions engaged in talks in the bargaining council are calling for a minimum wage of R7500 for a Grade C security officer, R8000 for Grade B, and R8500 for Grade A.
Currently, a Grade C security officer takes home R4377, Grade B R4891, and Grade A R5557.
These unions represent a reported 150,000 security and allied workers manning shopping malls, residential properties, universities, and government institutions, including hospitals.
Figures released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) this week showed that housebreaking is the number one crime in the country, and there was a significant rise in the number of street robberies.
- African News Agency
