Police forced to confront egg-throwing strikers

POLICE had to step in to ensure the smooth flow of traffic on Victoria Road in Pietermaritzburg as angry striking workers in the footwear industry resorted to throwing eggs at those inside the Eddels Shoe factory premises yesterday.

The workers, belonging to the National Union of Leather and Allied Workers Union (Nulawu), a Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) affiliate, are part of a nationwide strike action demanding a 9.5% salary hike and an expansion of family responsibility leave. But the employer is offering 6.25%.

The Cosatu-affiliated Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (Sactwu) is also involved in the strike action.

Sactwu general secretary Andre Kriel said: “Sactwu will stand firm behind the living wage demands of our striking footwear sector members. We call on the police to stay out of this dispute. We want a peaceful strike, focused on crushing worker poverty and broader social wealth inequality.”

Fedusa general secretary Ashley Benjamin said the workers were battling to make ends meet as living costs continue to rise and stressed that they would continue with their protest until their demands were met. The 6.25% offer was not enough, he added.

Police spokesperson Captain Khosi Khonjelwayo said they would monitor the situation but added there had not been any incidents of damage to property.