Labour department ready to mediate

Imogen Vollenhoven
14January 2013

 Striking farm workers in the Western Cape are calling for Premier Helen Zille to intervene in convincing farmers to join the current wage negotiations.

They say they need all farmers to show their willingness to negotiate, not only a few. The workers met yesterday afternoon in De Doorns and have vowed to continue with the strike.

Meanwhile Labour minister Mildred Oliphant said on Sunday her department is willing to mediate in the farm workers strike if all parties return to the negotiating table.

Oliphant was responding to the Congress of South African Trade Unions’ announcement that farm workers will from Monday intensify their strike over the wage demand of R150 a day.

She appealed to all parties involved, to engage in negotiations in good faith.

Cosatu's Western Cape Secretary Tony Ehrenreich said some farmers have indeed come to the table offering R110 per day, even though workers demanded R150.

Cosatu had on Sunday called on the presidency to intervene in the ongoing strike as fears of the intensification of industrial action were voiced.