Protestors bring politics to the picket
EFF joins strike by labourers at the Port of Richards Bay.
WHAT started out as a small walkout by employees of labour broker Kandisa Investments and Induna Logistics & Terminals last week, has now snowballed into a 100-man rally to stop ‘exploitation of labourers’ at the Port of Richards Bay.
On Monday, around 30 persons gathered at the entrance of the port, calling for wage increases from R35 (and below) per hour to R55 as well as provident funds and payment of a minimum eight hours per day during the workweek.
In response, Induna Logistics & Terminals demanded they return to work or have their contracts terminated.
Instead of this silencing them, the group of protestors grew three-fold and secured the support of the EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters) to strengthen their ‘fight for what is right’.
On Wednesday, representatives of the United Chemical Industries, Mining, Electrical, State Health and Aligned Workers Union (UCIMESHAWU) and the EFF addressed the assembly.
‘Employees of Transnet earn R80 and above per hour while I know some of you only get R25,’ said UCIMESHAWU Provincial Secretary, Bheki Shabane.
‘How does this happen?
‘Transnet pays the big cake to Induna so they can and should intervene so you earn what you deserve.’
Asking the employees what they currently have, various individuals in the crowd shouted ‘no bonus’, ‘no provident fund’, ‘no leave’, ‘no overtime’ and ‘no sick leave’.
‘All we are saying is everyone is born to survive, equal to others,’ said Shabane.
EFF speaks up
EFF Regional Chair Convener Henry Ngubane said the political party decided to get involved to help ‘raise the voice of the people’.
‘The ANC has left them stranded so now we are here to support them,’ said Ngubane.
‘We cannot simply fold our arms and let labourers be exploited by their employers.
‘This is pure oppression.’
Both Induna Logistics & Terminals and Kabisa Investments told the Zululand Observer they are still engaging with the union and any comments on the matter would be premature.
A response from Transnet was not received in time for print.
