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Over 300 Crookes Plantations employees yesterday wrote a letter, requesting the intervention of the Office of Labour Commissioner, Mthunzi Shabangu, on their 13 demands.
Swa]iland Agricultural and Plantations Workers Union (SAPWU) Branch Chairperson Sanele Sihlon gonyane, alleged that the company’s management had failed to attend to their demands.
The protest started on )riday and it entered its fourth day.
The chairperson said the union tabled 3 demands to the company, which included 5 per cent wage increment and education allowances to the tune of E3 500 for seasonal and permanent staff.
Sihlongonyane, when addressing the workers during their protest, said they (workers) were forced by the high living standards to engage in the protest.
He mentioned that the union was open to negotia tions with the employer.
“Crookes Plantations has been in existence for over 00 years. We believe the contribution of the employ ees towards its growth should be rewarded through addressing the necessary needs of its employees,” he said. Labour Commissioner Shabangu said he was in Pretoria, South Africa, and would get more details when he returned today.
Law
“I am not aware of the letter from the union but will get more details once I return to office, so that we can intervene if it is possible and within the perimeters of the law,” he said.
According to a notice of strike letter dated )ebru ary , 0 , that was also served to the company’s Human Resource Office by Sihlongonyane, it states that having been issued with a certificate of unresolved dispute by the Conciliation, Mediation andArbitration Commission (CMAC), a majority of employees voted for the strike action.
“SAPWU notifies the company of its intention to engage on strike action in terms of Section Sub section of the Industrial Relations Act of 000. The strike action will commence by means of com plete stoppage of work on )riday )ebruary , 0 at am and will continue until there is a resolution of the issues in the dispute or suspended or called off through written notice to the parties by the union (sic),” it reads.
The company’s Manager, Lucky 1gwenya, did not respond to calls and a WhatsApp message wherein he was asked about the company’s position regarding the strike action.