UPDATE: Agricultural Research Council employees give list of demands as police arrive at scene
Members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) embarked on a strike on Monday.
UPDATE
“Away with slave wages” and “to hell with zero per cent.” Those were among the slogans of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) members at their strike today.
The union members are all allegedly employees at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC). They closed the entrance to the ARC yesterday and also barred the road with burning tyres, rocks and tree branches.
Other employees were blocked from entering. When the police arrived at the scene around 09:00 to ask the strikers to let workers in, they responded with “injury to one is an injury to all” and that this is a nationwide strike.
The members told the newspaper that their list of demands included a 12,5 per cent increase and demanded that both the CEO and the board chairman of the ARC must vacate their positions.
One of the Nehawu members told the newspaper that they would halt their protest for the election tomorrow, but that they would continue on Thursday should their demands not be met.
According to provincial police spokesman, Col Mthsoli Bhembe, their members are there and they are monitoring the situation and are trying to diffuse it. “Barricaded the entrance to the centre, but the main road has not been affected,” Bhembe said.
This is a developing story and Lowvelder will keep you updated as soon as more information becomes available.
Here are their full list of demands
• Proper funding for agriculture research council
• Defend food security now
• Save jobs now
• Away with slave wages
• Away with retrenchments
• Transform agriculture now
• The CEO must go
• Board chairman must go
• A 12,5 per cent increase
• Performance bonus now
• ARC back to DAFF
• Minimum increase of R1 800
• Demand more benefits
• Demand 13th cheque
• Housing allowance
• Medical aid allowance
• Away with GGI (lowest grade)
• To hell with zero per cent
• Danger pay allowance
• Down with nepotism
• Forensic investigation into mismanagement of funds
• Down with incompetent management
MBOMBELA – On Tuesday the protesters blocked the entrance to the Agricultural Research Council, demanding salary and benefit increases.
They also demanded that the CEO and board chairman be removed.
“Transform agriculture now!” they demanded.
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