JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A strike is looming in South African security sector where over 150,000 security guards are expected to down tools after wage negotiations between employers and labor unions deadlocked last week.
At a press briefing in Johannesburg on Wednesday, seven unions vowed to bring the sector to a standstill when members embark on a strike if their wage demands were not met.
"We anticipate this to be a massive strike, we expect every security guard to ready themselves for this battle," said KAWU national coordinator Robert Dube.
The labor unions described the looming strike as the "mother of all battles", saying workers were being exploited while executives were able to afford opulent lifestyles.
"We are going for a war, this is a class struggle. We are heading for a mother of all battles, profit margins are high that they can afford the opulent lifestyle, but workers can't even afford a bicycle," said Detawu General Secretary Vusi Ntshangase.
While the seven unions representing the workers demand for a minimum wage of R7,500 to R8,500 (499 to 565 USD), currently a security officer takes home R4,377 to R5,557.
The unions said that they would ensure that every security officer joins the strike if their demands are not met.
"As unions, we will mobilize security officers in every shop, mineshaft, power stations, mall, factory, bank to support the strike and to bring about a qualitative change in their lives as well as to disrupt the unethical accumulation of exorbitant profits by bosses," said Ntshangase.
The seven unions are expected to take part in a compulsory mediation process set for October 1 and 2, if no agreement is reached, a certificate entitling workers to go on strike would be issued.
