UASA Media Release: 18 August 2026
Sugar sector workers’ demonstrating in a protected strike action for wage and benefits negotiations.
Statement by Abigail Moyo, spokesperson of the trade union UASA:
As the protected strike by UASA members in the sugar industry continues, UASA urges employers to return to the negotiating table and give renewed consideration to workers’ demands for fair wages and improved benefits.
Despite the ongoing industrial action, employers have yet to engage meaningfully with workers’ concerns, and no agreement has been reached to resolve the dispute. UASA is concerned that the absence of constructive engagement is unnecessarily prolonging a strike that could have been avoided through effective collective bargaining.
The strike follows several months of wage negotiations that commenced in February 2026. After the parties reached a deadlock and a certificate of non-resolution was issued, UASA members exercised their democratic right to vote in favour of industrial action. Protected strike action commenced on 15 August 2026.
Throughout the negotiation process, UASA has maintained that strike action should be a measure of last resort, undertaken only when all reasonable attempts to secure a fair settlement have been exhausted.
The union’s demands remain focused on wage increases and benefits that adequately reflect the economic realities facing workers. Rising costs associated with food, fuel, electricity, transport and housing continue to place significant pressure on household incomes, making meaningful wage adjustments essential for workers and their families.
UASA believes that continued silence from employers is not a sustainable path towards resolving the dispute. A strike signals that the collective bargaining process has reached an impasse and that conventional negotiations have failed to produce an acceptable outcome. The appropriate response is renewed engagement and dialogue aimed at finding a mutually acceptable resolution.
UASA remains committed to representing the interests of its members and will continue to participate in the bargaining process until a fair and sustainable agreement is reached.
In the meantime, UASA calls on all members participating in the protected strike to continue conducting themselves peacefully, responsibly and in full compliance with the law.
For further enquiries or to set up a personal interview, contact Abigail Moyo at 065 170 0162.