Solidarity secures wage agreement in petroleum sector

A favourable one-year wage agreement of 8,5% across the board and 10% on the lowest level which was secured today in the petroleum sector, brought an end to the wage dispute which dragged on in this sector of the National Bargaining Council for the Chemical Industry (NBCCI), trade union Solidarity said today.

According to Dr Dirk Herman, Deputy General Secretary of Solidarity, the agreement was reached after the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) intervened in terms of section 150 of the Labour Relations Act to settle the dispute.

"Today's agreement creates a balance between the needs of the employees, the employers, the public and South Africa," said Hermann. "The agreement will also help to repair the broken trust between employers and employees, which hampered negotiations this year," he added.

The wage agreement will be implemented retroactively from 1 July. "The agreement will be valid for one year. Solidarity calls on all the parties in the bargaining council to work on this relationship, ensuring that this year's crisis isn't repeated and that a favourable wage agreement can be reached speedily next year," according to Hermann.

Statement issued by Dr. Dirk Hermann, Deputy General Secretary: Solidarity, July 28 2011

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