OVK hit by strike over wage impasse

Three months of wage talks have ended in a deadlock, with workers downing tools in the wool, mohair and livestock brokering division of OVK.

About 80 workers resorted to strike action on Monday, saying a series of talks had broken down during the protracted negotiation period.

They say negotiations started in July, with workers initially demanding a wage increase of 15% and a 1% increase to their provident fund.

OVK initially offered a 4% wage increase and a 0.5% increase to the provident fund, they said.

Workers later asked for a 9.5% wage increase and a 1% increase to the provident fund.

SA Clothing and Textile Workers Union provincial secretary Jongile Mazweni was adamant that they would not return to work until their demands were met.

Mazweni said OVK upped its offer on Friday, to a 7% wage increase and 0.5% increase to the provident fund.

Shop steward Felicia Cosa said the company was not hiring long-serving staff members on a permanent basis.

Cosa said she had yet to be made permanent despite having worked at the company since 2003.

Another employee, Vuyokazi Kumetse, 47, said she had only been permanently employed after 10 years of service.

Justice Mange, 61, said he had a problem with the company issuing pay slips in Afrikaans.

“Our pay slips have been issued in Afrikaans since 2010, whilst most employees are black and we have been fighting this,” he said.

OVK marketing manager Santa Ferreira denied that wage negations began in July, saying the strike was caused by the deadlock in wage negotiations with the unions.

“OVK is in constant negotiations with the trade unions,” Ferreira said.

When questioned on longserving workers not being made permanent, Ferreira declined to comment, saying the question was irrelevant to the strike.