Labour Court recommends 3% pay increase after staffing concessions

In 1993, the Labour Court recommended a 3% pay increase for workers at Burmah Castrol as part of a settlement of the company’s dispute with the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union. The recommendation was dated 1 May 1993. The union sought the increase under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, offering to accept non-filling of existing vacancies. Burmah Castrol cited recession and competitive pressures and sought staffing and technology changes. The Court recommended that Burmah Castrol drop its proposal not to replace employees leaving service, while the union accepted non-replacement of three existing and two future vacancies. It also recommended postponing laptop computers until 1 September 1993 for joint assessment and delaying further staff reductions for the duration of the programme. If the proposals were accepted, the 3% increase would take effect from 1 July 1992.