Mkhuze strike comes to an end
The strike was short-lived, and Mkhuze town returned to normal on Saturday
STRIKING workers who forced the shutdown of Mkhuze on Friday by barricading the town’s entrance with burning debris, reportedly reached an agreement with their employers and the situation returned to normal on Saturday.
At about 6am on Friday the striking workers from a local fast food outlet and petrol station complex, supported by farm workers in the area, closed the N2 with burning branches and, according to some reports, overturned cars.
Police officers soon moved them off and re-opened the N2, but the protesters then barricaded the entrance to Mkhuze town.
Shops and businesses were closed for the day and the town came to a standstill.
Bigboy Nyawo, a local community leader, said the workers belonged to various unions, with the majority being SAMWU members.
They were protesting over a wage dispute which allegedly started the previous weekend.
‘The employees demanded better salaries – some of them earn just R1 800 a month and they also want to be paid for overtime and night shifts,’ said Nyawo on Friday.
‘Their employers have not listened to their grievances, which is why the employees started protesting.’
By Saturday the workers appeared to have resolved their grievances with their employers as the strike ended and the town’s activities returned to normal.
None of the employers in question could be contacted for comment or to verify the reasons behind the strike.
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