Cape Town - Strikes in the agricultural sector are set to continue on Monday and unions have warned that this is just the “tip of the iceberg” - with widespread strike action just around the corner.
Last week, workers on four farms owned by the Le Roux group, one of the Boland’s largest fruit producers, downed their tools.
The farms are Broodkraal in Piketberg, Sandrivier in Wellington, and Joubertsdal and Mooikelder in Paarl.
This followed weeks of strike threats by the Black Association of the Wine and Spirit Industry (Bawsi) and the Bawsi Agricultural Workers Union of South Africa (Bawusa).
Sandrivier farm manager Stephan Strauss alleged that Bawusa strike organisers waited at transport pick-up points on Thursday morning and came to farms to intimidate people into striking.
“We consider this to be an unprotected strike and have informed workers there is a no-work, no-pay policy in place,” the manager told the Cape Argus last week.
“There is always the possibility that if they continue to take part in this unprotected strike they could lose their jobs.”
But Bawusa general secretary Nosey Pieterse said on Sunday the strike would go on as long as the Le Roux group’s management refused to meet for negotiations.
“We have 3 000 workers who want to challenge unlawful deductions and changes to their employment conditions.”
He claimed that workers had approached him after their employer had increased transport, rent and electricity wage deductions to undercut the new minimum wage.
In February, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant announced that the minimum wage would be raised from R69 a day to R105.
“This is just the start,” said Pieterse. “Soon, we will see workers in De Doorns put down their tools and start striking too.
“There will be no violence because this time round the strikes are in the control of the unions… This could change, depending on how the police and farmers deal with us.”
Last year, the agricultural sector suffered millions of rand in losses after workers went on strike and productivity was crippled.