Textile workers on strike.
Photograph by: Lerato Maduna

"It is word for word the same as an offer that was tabled to the trade union at a leadership negotiation meeting held three weeks

ago," the union said in a statement.

"At that meeting, the trade union leadership indicated very clearly that such an offer would not be acceptable to our members."

While the proffered eight percent pay hike was acceptable as an increase for metro workers (provided the employers drop the conditions attached), it failed to address the gap between metro and non-metro wage levels.

In all parts of the country other than the Western Cape, Sactwu members had over the past few days summarily rejected the offer. Western Cape members would be consulted on Monday.

"We will wait for the outcome of the Western Cape workers' mandate on Monday but, unless there is a miracle between now and then, we do not expect that our members will accept the employers' 'revised offer'," the union said.

"In fact, since the employers have tabled their 'revised offer', our strike has grown stronger."

Earlier on Friday, Sactwu national organising secretary Chris Gina told media in Durban that workers in KwaZulu-Natal's Isithebe area and Free State's Botshabelo and Qwaqwa were expected to continue striking even if the revised offer was accepted.

The legal wage for a qualified machinist was R399 per week but in some factories in Isithebe, Botshabelo and Qwaqwa, machinists were earning as little as R126 per week.

"In Botshabelo, based on a survey of 19 factories jointly employing almost 2000 workers, the average actual wage paid to a machinist is R241 per week. The lowest paid in this area is R126 per week," said Gina.

The situation was the same in Qwaqwa and Botshabelo, he said.

Gina said it was sad that most garments produced in the three areas were apparently bought by retailers such as Edgars, Pep Stores, Woolworths and Mr Price.

"We have pleaded with them to source ethically but with very little success. No corrective action has been taken by them and they simply deny that they source their goods from these factories," he said.

Sactwu members went on a nation-wide wage strike on Tuesday, demanding a 7.9 percent salary increase in cities and an 11.5 percent wage hike in rural areas.