South African workers end strike at Robben Island

South African workers end strike at Robben Island
Workers at Robben Island, where former president Nelson Mandela was once held for 27 years, have ended a three-week strike, it was announced on Thursday.

"We decided yesterday to suspend the strike," said Luthando Nogcinisa, provincial secretary of the National Health Education and Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU).

"It was a mutual decision by the management and workers," he said.

The workers went on strike on Oct. 26 to demand higher wages and time off over Christmas.

Nogcinisa said the management had committed to implementing a provision to increase medical aid allowance in terms of a settlement signed last year. "Management have agreed need to open negotiations on how the wage issue will be addressed," he said.

Management offered a six-percent salary increase and refused to shut down the offices during "peak season."

The "fundamental issue," however, was the widening wage gap between top management and lower workers, Nogcinisa said.

About 12 km offshore from Cape Town, Robben Island served as a place of banishment, isolation and imprisonment during apartheid times. Today it is a pivotal beacon in the history of South Africa and one of the country's seven World Heritage sites, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from around the world.

Editor: Bi Mingxin

English.news.cn   2011-11-17 17:16:23 FeedbackPrintRSS
CAPE TOWN, Nov. 17 (Xinhua)