Johannesburg - Sactwu has settled its national wage dispute in the cotton textile sector, the union said on Monday.
"The settlement provides for a seven percent wage increase, backdated to 1 July this year," SA Clothing and Textile Workers' Union chief negotiator Bonita Loubser said.
The settlement was reached on Friday with the SA Cotton and Textile Processing Employers' Association, after two rounds of compulsory conciliation, under the auspices of the National Textile Bargaining Council.
The agreement will benefit about 7000 cotton textile workers employed in 65 factories. The parties would also discuss measures aimed at reducing companies' carbon footprints.
Loubser said it was the first ever Sactwu wage agreement that directly tackled "green economy" issues.
"We hope to build and expand on this in future agreements," she said.