South African clothing workers strike against low wages

This ‘warning’ strike was in protest against UCTA’s continued undermining of the clothing bargaining council and their continued payment of wages below the legally prescribed levels.

In Newcastle alone, where the prescribed minimum starting wage is as low as only R414 per week, 4 200 workers participated in the action yesterday. Today, just over 3 000 workers in QwaQwa struck. The balance of about 3000 workers who supported the strike, were from other parts of the KZN province.

The strike has now been suspended, as SACTWU only wished it to be a warning to employers who fail to obey the law and who continue to underpay our members.

SACTWU’s core demand is immediate compliance with the legally prescribed minimum wage and an end to UCTA’s sustained attack on clothing workers.

Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union