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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Striking South African workers 'whipped by employers' | Striking South African workers 'whipped by employers' |
| (8 days later) | |
| A group of street cleaners in Germiston, east of Johannesburg, have been on strike for at least two weeks. But on Monday, as they gathered to picket, they were allegedly attacked by their employers, a company contracted by the local government. Wielding "sjamboks" – thick leather whips – a group of men perched on the back of a pickup truck are said to have chased after workers and then assaulted them. | A group of street cleaners in Germiston, east of Johannesburg, have been on strike for at least two weeks. But on Monday, as they gathered to picket, they were allegedly attacked by their employers, a company contracted by the local government. Wielding "sjamboks" – thick leather whips – a group of men perched on the back of a pickup truck are said to have chased after workers and then assaulted them. |
| Three workers, Phakama Cokoto, Phamile Cokoto and Collins Rikhotso, sustained injuries. As the group of striking workers dispersed out of reach of the men on the truck, the assailants are then alleged to have gone to the offices of the Casual Workers Advice Office in Germiston where they demanded to be informed of the whereabouts of the striking workers. When that information was not forthcoming, the assailants then allegedly threatened to destroy the property, going on to lash out a volunteer at the Advice Office. | Three workers, Phakama Cokoto, Phamile Cokoto and Collins Rikhotso, sustained injuries. As the group of striking workers dispersed out of reach of the men on the truck, the assailants are then alleged to have gone to the offices of the Casual Workers Advice Office in Germiston where they demanded to be informed of the whereabouts of the striking workers. When that information was not forthcoming, the assailants then allegedly threatened to destroy the property, going on to lash out a volunteer at the Advice Office. |
| Thabang Mohlala, the injured volunteer, was treated at a Germiston hospital late on Monday while his assailants, alleged to be the two people who own Mvume Investments (the company hiring the workers) were arrested by local police. | Thabang Mohlala, the injured volunteer, was treated at a Germiston hospital late on Monday while his assailants, alleged to be the two people who own Mvume Investments (the company hiring the workers) were arrested by local police. |
| Sadly, this incident only serves to highlight the fragility of industrial relations in post-Marikana South Africa. Distrust of the police is growing alongside pockets of resistance from workers who feel isolated from the centre of power in the unions that are meant to represent them. Cosatu (The Congress of South African Trade Unions) and its individual affiliates are suffering from a growing perception that trade unions in South Africa have become institutions of social control, with little left of their original roots as radical challengers to social inequality and exploitation. | Sadly, this incident only serves to highlight the fragility of industrial relations in post-Marikana South Africa. Distrust of the police is growing alongside pockets of resistance from workers who feel isolated from the centre of power in the unions that are meant to represent them. Cosatu (The Congress of South African Trade Unions) and its individual affiliates are suffering from a growing perception that trade unions in South Africa have become institutions of social control, with little left of their original roots as radical challengers to social inequality and exploitation. |
| Ighsaan Schroeder, Coordinator of the Casual Workers Advice Office in Germiston, believes such weaknesses are once more apparent in the Germiston street cleaners strike. "The union has turned its back on the workers," he says. | Ighsaan Schroeder, Coordinator of the Casual Workers Advice Office in Germiston, believes such weaknesses are once more apparent in the Germiston street cleaners strike. "The union has turned its back on the workers," he says. |
| Tahir Sema, spokesperson for the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) says the Cosatu-affiliated union, to which the street cleaners belong, was aware of the strike, but rejected allegations that the union had abandoned workers. He claims the strike is illegal and unprotected and workers have resisted SAMWU's attempts at intervention. | Tahir Sema, spokesperson for the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) says the Cosatu-affiliated union, to which the street cleaners belong, was aware of the strike, but rejected allegations that the union had abandoned workers. He claims the strike is illegal and unprotected and workers have resisted SAMWU's attempts at intervention. |
| Schroeder denies SAMWU's assessment of the strike as an illegal and unprotected one. "The dispute was referred to the [Council for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration], workers gave 48 hours' notice before striking, all in compliance with the Labour Relations Act," he said. He believes that an interim order won by workers in the labour court that allows them the right to picket is further proof that the strike is not illegal. They would not win such an order if the strike was unprotected," he said. | Schroeder denies SAMWU's assessment of the strike as an illegal and unprotected one. "The dispute was referred to the [Council for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration], workers gave 48 hours' notice before striking, all in compliance with the Labour Relations Act," he said. He believes that an interim order won by workers in the labour court that allows them the right to picket is further proof that the strike is not illegal. They would not win such an order if the strike was unprotected," he said. |
| While the legality of the strike may still be contended, the issues that have driven workers to picket, protest and throw rubble in the streets are also some way from resolution. Workers here are striking against the labour broking, casual labour, sub-contracting system. They feel their colleagues who are employed directly by the municipality enjoy higher salaries and several other benefits. They claim they have been laid entirely at the mercy of their direct employers, who attach them to a performance-based salary, frequently deducting pay if the streets are deemed to be insufficiently clean. Workers want to be relieved of the agency of the subcontractor and be employed directly by the municipality instead. | While the legality of the strike may still be contended, the issues that have driven workers to picket, protest and throw rubble in the streets are also some way from resolution. Workers here are striking against the labour broking, casual labour, sub-contracting system. They feel their colleagues who are employed directly by the municipality enjoy higher salaries and several other benefits. They claim they have been laid entirely at the mercy of their direct employers, who attach them to a performance-based salary, frequently deducting pay if the streets are deemed to be insufficiently clean. Workers want to be relieved of the agency of the subcontractor and be employed directly by the municipality instead. |
| Sema says SAMWU has received an undertaking from the South African Local Government Association to desist in local government's use of labour brokers and sub-contractors. While the agreement still stands, various municipalities are still being held to contracts they had previously signed. | Sema says SAMWU has received an undertaking from the South African Local Government Association to desist in local government's use of labour brokers and sub-contractors. While the agreement still stands, various municipalities are still being held to contracts they had previously signed. |
| "We did explain to workers, but it's almost as though these workers were too impatient with the process," he says. | "We did explain to workers, but it's almost as though these workers were too impatient with the process," he says. |
| Sema claims the good relationship between the Ekurhuleni municipality and SAMWU may have assisted in speeding up the process, but the strike has now damaged the relationship and therefore such possibilities. "The union advised alternate forms of engagement," Sema says. | Sema claims the good relationship between the Ekurhuleni municipality and SAMWU may have assisted in speeding up the process, but the strike has now damaged the relationship and therefore such possibilities. "The union advised alternate forms of engagement," Sema says. |
| "The union will try to intervene and is willing to assist workers, but SAMWU feels workers must be responsible and first exhaust all bargaining and negotiating options before embarking on such a strike," he adds. | "The union will try to intervene and is willing to assist workers, but SAMWU feels workers must be responsible and first exhaust all bargaining and negotiating options before embarking on such a strike," he adds. |
| Workers, however, feel that the union's attempts at intervention have been insufficient and they have been abandoned to the whim of their employers – employers who will resort to anything, including threats and violence, to ensure they return to work. | Workers, however, feel that the union's attempts at intervention have been insufficient and they have been abandoned to the whim of their employers – employers who will resort to anything, including threats and violence, to ensure they return to work. |
| A longer version of this article can be read here | A longer version of this article can be read here |
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