Workers go on strike over wage dispute
A WAGE dispute at the Queenspark Distribution Centre in Wynberg, which has reportedly been dragging on since June when negotiations started, has led to workers embarking on a strike this week.
The strike is supported by the South African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (Sactwu), which says talks have deadlocked.
Workers earn on average R4800 per month and had initially wanted a R1 000 increase, which amounts to about 15percent. Queenspark had offered 6 percent.
Sactwu’s Frank Hughes said subsequent negotiations led to the workers agreeing to a demand of R650 per month extra – an 8.5 percent increase.
Talks reportedly broke down when Queenspark agreed to negotiate with union members, but offered non-union members a 6 percent increase.
The matter was then referred to the CCMA.
Hughes told the Cape Argus while workers had agreed to consider an offer of 7.5percent, it would be at the cost of so-called “legacy benefits” which included medical aid, visit doctors,and working half day on the Thursday before Good Friday and public holidays which fell on Saturdays. They would then expect to receive half-pay for that day.
The workers would accept the 7.5percent offer only if the legacy benefits remained, he said.
The union said it would increase the intensity of the strike action and threatened to march on the company’s headquarters in Salt River.
A striking worker, Ruwayda Jacobs, said the R4 800 a month she had to survive on was “unacceptable”.
“The reason we are outside today is that the bosses don’t want to hear our outcry. They want to give us 6percent, which is less than what we had last year.
“Last year they gave us R500 increase, and this year they want to give us R432.
“For us that is unacceptable because it’s less than last year.”
Queenspark issued a response to the ongoing protest, in which it said it “respects the right of these staff members to go on strike”.
“Queenspark Distribution Centre (Pty) Ltd has approved a market-related increase to the remuneration paid to its staff.
“However, about half the staff felt that this was not acceptable and have gone on strike.
“Queenspark Distribution Centre respects the right of these staff members to go on strike as they are entitled to do, and looks forward to the resolution of this matter,” the company statement read.