Workers at PharmaQ, Industria West, braved the bitter August cold to embark on strike action against their employer.
According to workers at the plant, the strike continues from July 29, after their demands were not met by the employer.
Citing unfair labour practices by the employer, Itumeleng Kgalege (Shop Steward and Negotiator for the strikers), stated that the employees demanded a 10% wage increase over a one-year period, while the employer was offering 7,5% over a one-year period, with an additional 7% increase offered for the second year.
The workers, who are affiliated with the South African Chemical Workers Union (SACWU), are demanding that the scope of agreement cover all union members, while the employer contends that the scope of the agreement must be negotiated at the plant level.
“We are demanding a minimum wage and job security, “Kgalege said. He also voiced his concern that temporary employees’employment status had not changed after being in the company’s employ for a period of three months, adding that this affected their job security, and was in direct contravention of the Labour Relations Act (LRA).
According to him, the show of solidarity spread to branches in East London and Port Elizabeth since last week Friday, with more branches expected to join their colleagues in taking the strike action to a national level.
Talks are expected to resume as both sides are expected to return to the negotiation tables before the strike turns national, as more branches are expected to join their colleagues in the strike action.
No incidents of violence have been reported, and the protest action has been peaceful thus far.
A representative of the company was approached for comment on the strike, but declined as negotiations between the parties are still ongoing.
