Wage talks in chemical sector to begin

Johannesburg - Wage talks in the industrial chemicals sector are expected to start this week, trade union Solidarity said on Sunday.

The union wanted an increase of 9.5% while employers were offering 5%, spokeperson Marius Croucamp said in a statement.

The talks would start at the National Bargaining Council for the Chemical Industry on Monday.

Negotiations in the petroleum and glass sectors would start later in the week. Although he expected talks to be "tough" Croucamp did not foresee the possibility of a strike. The larger companies involved are Sasol, AECI, and Omnia.

"This year’s wage increases must assist employees at the very least to maintain their standard of living, and to improve it if at all possible," Croucamp said.

He said Solidarity had about 4 000 members in the chemicals sector, 6 000 in the petroleum sector, and less than 1 000 in the glass sector.

At least two more unions would be involved in the talks, the General Industries Workers Union of SA, and the SA Chemical Workers Union.