By Karyn Maughan
About 9 000 guards and their families are facing a new year without money or jobs as the national security guard strike heads for its third week.
Millard Xeketwana, deputy chairman of the SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union, said: "None of the workers have been paid since the strike began, which is a violation of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act. Workers are supposed to be paid by the 31st of every month.
"We are very concerned because our workers are hungry and no provision has been made for them."
| 'At the moment they earn less than a domestic worker - with no benefits' |
He said several security companies had sent letters of dismissal to striking security staff and had asked them for their uniforms back.
"Secuforce, Sentry Guarding and Fidelity Guards have all sent letters of dismissal.
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"Fidelity Guards have brought 200 guards in from the Fidelity Springbok Services in the Eastern Cape and are accommodating them at the University of the Western Cape and Peninsula Technikon residences. They will be taking the places of the striking guards.
"We plan to lay charges against these companies for the intimidation and unfair labour practices and we are gathering information for that purpose."
Xeketwana said he was certain the strike would be successful.
| 'But we do need staff for contingency purposes' |
"Our main aim is ensure that our members get a better standard of living. At the moment they earn between R1 300 and R1 800 - less than a domestic worker - and have no medical aid or any other benefits. This has to be changed," he said.
The union has reached an agreement with several black-owned security companies but are still negotiating with white-owned companies.
Barry Ryan, the deputy managing director of Fidelity Guards, said he could not confirm that 200 guards had been brought in from the Eastern Cape. "I'm aware of about two dozen guards that were brought in from Mossel Bay and Port Elizabeth, but I don't believe the number is as high as 200. But we do have to ensure we have staff for contingency purposes," he said.
Ryan denied letters of dismissal had been sent to striking staff. "This is a protected strike and such an action would be illegal," he said.
William Barlow, managing director of Secuforce, also denied letters of dismissal had been sent to striking staff. "We haven't sent any letters. Where would we send them? We don't know where half the staff stay.
"The only staff we have dismissed were the two individuals arrested on suspicion of the murder of two security guards in Bishop Lavis."
Adrian Good, the managing director of Sentry Security, said no letters of dismissal had been sent by either Sentry Security or Sentry Guarding.
Security guards will be meeting at Cape Town train station today to be updated on the strike.
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