Queenspark workers firm on wage bid

WORKERS from Queenspark Clothing Distributors aligned to the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (Sactwu) have vowed to continue a protected wage strike unless their demand for a 7.5 percent salary increase is met.

The 30 workers are demanding an increase of 7.5 percent on their R4 800 monthly salaries, but Queenspark Clothing Distributors has offered them a 6 percent or 7 percent increase with conditions that the employees’ legacy benefits are scrapped.

Wage negotiations deadlocked, and mediation at the CCMA failed to resolve the dispute. The CCMA issued a certificate of non-resolution of the dispute on October 18, after which Sactwu issued a 48-hour notice of strike action.

Speaking on behalf of the workers, Frank Hughes called the condition to scrap legacy benefits ridiculous. The benefits include working a halfday on a Saturday, working a half-day on Good Friday, and being paid when a worker had a doctor’s appointment.

“The negotiations with the employer started in June with the workers demanding 15 percent, but still the employer would not agree,” said Hughes.

The 6 percent the employer was offering is equivalent to a R432 a month increase, and the 7.5 percent to R507, he added. Last year, Queenspark gave the workers a R500 increase.

“Why would the increase be lower this year than last year?” asked Hughes.

“We accept the 7.5 percent, but with the legacy benefits,” said Hughes, adding “workers are not prepared to back off until their demands are met.”

Ruwayda Jacobs, a 55-yearold worker from Manenberg, said she was unhappy with the legacy benefits being scrapped. “We want the increase without the conditions. Food and transport fares have gone up and with the salary I am earning, I am unable to provide for my family.”

Worker Muriel Mannel, 57, from Bishop Lavis, said she was disappointed and upset the employer had hired casual workers in their positions. “Those (casual) workers need to know they are taking bread out of our mouths,” she said.

The company refused to comment yesterday.