The agreement stipulated that all employees would receive either an increase of 8% or R400, depending on which amount was greater. The agreement would extend for a three-year period, and would also include inflation-related increases for 2017 and 2018.
In addition, workers would receive full annual bonuses that were equal to one month’s salary. The winery also agreed to drop any disciplinary action against 16 of the strike leaders.
“The increase, while still far from the living wage of R8 500, represents a significant increase for workers in the wine industry,” a statement by CSAAWU read. The union said that although they had not achieved its initial demand, it had still been victorious.
“The wine industry will never be the same. Workers at wine cellars across the country will take inspiration from what the Robertson Winery workers have achieved.”
Managing director of Robertson Winery, Anton Cilliers, said that they were satisfied with the outcome of the negotiations, but that the union’s demand for a 150% increase was “implausible and impossible to consider”.
He added that the winery was, however, committed to the overall improvement of the lives of all their employees, and that employment contracts would continue to include access to free medical facilities, as well as housing loans and subsidies where applicable.
Operations were set to resume on 28 November.
