Trade unions Satawu and Untu downed tools last week amid a wage dispute.

On Thursday, the union rejected a three-year wage offer of 4.5% for the current year and a 5% increase for the next two years.

The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration subsequently proposed a 6% increase, which it urged all parties to accept.

But it has also rejected by Satawu.

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Satawu spokesperson Amanda Tshemese says workers won’t accept anything below inflation. 

She says there are three reasons why the proposal was rejected. 

“The commission’s proposal is below inflation; our members feel that accepting anything below inflation will be to the detriment of their livelihoods. They will accept anything above inflation anything above inflation.

“Two retrenchments, in the history of salary negotiations with the employer, collective agreements contained no retrenchment clause.

“Three back pay, provided that parties reach a consensus on the preceding bullet points, the union proposes that the back pay should be paid once-off.”