With the Numsa strike still raging, the GCN chatted to two businesses about how the strike action has been affecting them.
We visited Plastics 2 000 in Shad Road, Wadeville, who have had a number of run-ins with striking workers.
Although the plastics industry is no longer part of the metal industry, workers have been on a “sympathy” strike, as many of them are members of Numsa.
Owner of the business Walter Grü?ber and his son, Stefan, told the GCN that strikers recently broke down one of their steel gates, damaged cars and broke many of the factory’s windows.
“I keep having to pick up stones off my office floor,” said Walter.
The strikers caused approximately R60 000 worth of damage when they attacked the company.
The company is currently operating with only a handful of workers and Stefan said they are operating at only 10 per cent capacity.
“The strike is affecting us greatly,” said Walter.
“Most of our customers are in the same boat and understand the situation, but we still need to get the work out,” Stefan said.
The company was one of the first to obtain an interdict against the Numsa strikers.
It states that the strikers are not allowed within 100m of the business.
This has not stopped them from hanging around the company, but they haven’t attacked the premises again and don’t seem to stay for very long when they do arrive.
When the company was attacked on July 2, there was a skeleton staff of four people in production, who are all non-Numsa members, and office staff.
“Just after 11am, we noticed a crowd of about 200 Numsa members coming down Shad Road; we closed our blinds and locked all access points to the factory,” said Stefan.
The strikers, dressed in Numsa T-shirts and carrying a branded flag, as well as sticks, rocks and knobkerries, became violent as they reached the factory.
“They started throwing bricks and stones at the building and its windows facing the street, shouting and showing threatening signs,” said Stefan.
“At this point we pressed our panic button and called the police, who could not respond at that point as they had lots of call outs.
“The striking people then concentrated on our front left gate, forcing it open and damaging it immensely.
“They gained entrance to the property and started throwing bricks and stones at the cars, while many of those with sticks and metal poles hit the cars and smashed their windows.
“Most of our factory windows were also smashed.”
Stefan added that, after spending about 20 minutes destroying Plastics 2000’s property, they left.
Walter and Stefan said they should actually not be affected at all, as the plastics industry has already signed off on their wage agreement.
They say that many of their workers have been intimidated into joining the strike – 47 workers are on strike and 90 per cent of their staff are Numsa members.
The GCN also spoke to Daniel Barnett, SA Metal Group’s divisional director, about how the strike has been affecting the company.
He said that the company has two premises in Germiston, one in Elandsfontein and the other in Knights.
Strikers have been active in both areas, but it appears the Knights area has been hit slightly harder.
On July 7, Barnett said, about 100 Numsa strikers attacked the premises in Knights.
“The company was caught unawares,” he added.
“They came down the road from the Eastern side, armed with sjamboks and sticks.
“The strikers threw rocks over the wall and damaged about 20 vehicles, as well as smashing all the office windows.
“They then forced down the steel gate, but luckily the police arrived before they could get in.”
The company was closed for business that day, but reopened the following day and has been operating ever since.
About half the employees were not there, but on Wednesday most of them arrived back at work.
“We are quite strong and have been improvising to keep the business going,” Barnett said.
“We have kept operating, although a lot of our competitors have been closed for business.”
At the time of going to press the Numsa strike was still ongoing.
For other Numsa stories click here:
Driehoek company attacked by Numsa strikers
Germiston’s motoring and engineering companies left confused after Numsa’s attack
Eight Numsa members arrested for public violence
Government condemns violence during strikes
