Bonnievale police disperse protesting Parmalat workers

POLICE fired tear gas and rubber bullets into a crowd of workers on strike at Parmalat in Bonnievale yesterday.

About 200 workers are members of the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) and have been on a wage strike since July 23.

“There is a lock-out by management and workers have been protesting outside the factory. Police came and opened fire. This is not the first time. On Wednesday they fired tear gas at people in Uitsig – the residential area – as children were coming out of school,” said union worker committee member Rachel Kleyn.

She said the Bonnievale police refused to take statements from some workers who wanted to lodge complaints of brutality against the police.

“Some people became sick from the tear gas and were taken to doctors,” Kleyn said.

She said union members demanded a 9 percent increase while Parmalat’s offer was 7 percent. The minimum salary was R2 400. Negotiations began in April and increases were due in May.

“We are determined to get that increase and we’ll strike until then,” she said.

Union general secretary Katishi Masemola said the national strike involved 450 workers at Parmalat’s plants in East London, Port Elizabeth and Bonnievale.

“I don’t know the facts, but in principle we call on our members to show restraint and discipline and for police not to be heavy-handed when dealing with workers. I’m preparing to write to Parmalat management to come back to the table, but I’m waiting for feedback from members about a possible compromise to the wage dispute,” he said.

Police spokesman Tembinkosi Kinana said police reacted after about 100 people pelted them with stones and barricaded the road with trees and rocks. “The police reacted by firing stun grenades in order to diffuse the situation and disperse a group estimated at about 100 protesters. A case of public violence is under investigation. However, no arrests have been made at this stage. According to the police, no people were refused their right to lodge complaints. If any person would like to forward any complaint to the police, they can approach the office of the station commander for assistance.”