Striking workers burn trucks
Striking workers at Botselo Milling in Delareyville have burnt down two company trucks, the company says.
|||Rustenburg - Striking workers at Botselo Milling in Delareyville have burnt down two company trucks, the company said on Thursday.
Human resource manager Ian Putter said the company obtained a labour court interdict restraining striking workers from coming within 500m of the main gate, preventing non-striking workers from reporting for duty, blocking the entrance to the company's premises or threatening non-striking workers.
“Despite the further order of the court, the members continued to strike, however becoming more aggressive, casting threats and refusing to allow non-striking employees to enter premises,” he said.
He said the police were called to disperse the workers from the company buildings. After they were dispersed the workers regrouped along the N14 at the turn-off to Botselo Milling in Delareyville where they set alight tyres and continued to protest in an uncontrollable manner.
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“Individuals gained access to Botselo's premises, torching two trucks that burnt out, while also throwing out the windows of several other vehicles and buildings.”
He said there was also an attempt to set alight some building on the premises.
Putter said the total damage had not yet been assessed. “The loss of food production and the impact thereof in the supply chain caused by the unprotected strike is expected to reveal itself in due course, same also expected to be substantial given the continued drought situation in the area.”
The striking workers were reported to be members of the National Transport Movement (NTM).
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Ngaka Modiri Molema said the the company and the police had violated the rights of the striking workers.
“Botselo Mills and SAPS [South African Police Service] have not only violated rights of the workers but have also put the lives of the people of Skierlik on the N14 in Delareyville in grave danger,” said regional secretary, Neo Moroeng.
“Several innocent people have been shot with rubber bullets by the police and an incident of a person being shot with a rubber bullet on the head has been reported. An elderly man has also been reported to have been shot while in his yard.”
She said employees of Botselo Mills have been engaged in a three-week long strike demanding better living wages.
Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in North West said the workers had been on a protected wage strike since from March 14, in pursuit of their demands and better condition of employment.
“Botselo mills have been continuously denying workers the right to exercise their right to join a union of their choice. Every time when workers intended joining the union, they are targeted and at some point been dismissed,” said provincial secretary Job Dliso.
“The employer has been applying these intransigent tricks by avoiding engaging with unions on bettering the conditions of employment and wage negotiations.”
AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY