Workers complain that company pays them ‘peanuts’

Strikers protest outside the LSG Sky Chefs company’s depot. The workers complain of poor wages, racism and poor working conditions. 200616. Picture: Chris Collingridge 986

Strikers protest outside the LSG Sky Chefs company’s depot. The workers complain of poor wages, racism and poor working conditions. 200616. Picture: Chris Collingridge 986

Published Jun 21, 2016

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Johannesburg - Employees from LSG Sky Chefs SA blocked Jones Road in Jet Park, Boksburg, on Monday while striking under the banner of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa).

About 300 workers stood at the Jones and Springbok roads intersection singing Struggle songs, brandishing sticks, sjamboks and posters.

Afraid to identify themselves out of fear of losing their jobs, several workers complained that they had been mistreated by management.

Some accused their bosses of being “racist and anti-unionist”, and others said the strike was over low wages.

“If you do one small thing, even just eat a biscuit or make a simple mistake, they fire you on the spot, no warnings, nothing. They don’t want black people working here,” one man shouted.

“We live in a democratic country, treat us properly. Treat us equally. We cannot have racism, not now, not ever,” he said.

A 51-year-old woman said she had been working for LSG Sky Chefs since 1996 and claimed she was paid only R3 000 a month.

“I have been working here for 20 years and I’m expected to train interns who get paid a lot more than I do. It’s wrong, I have a family to support. I want to send them to school and give them a good education, but I can’t do that on R3 000,” she said.

Another worker said the company supplies food to global flights and makes millions in profit, “but we get paid peanuts”.

Numsa official Robert Seroka said the union had had several meetings with management about the way workers are treated but no agreement could be reached.

“They are intimidating workers, forcing them to stay beyond their working hours. We support this protected strike and stand in solidarity with the employees,” he said.

LSG Sky Chefs director of corporate communications Kerstin Lau said the company was a member of the Bargaining Council for Restaurant, Catering and Allied trades. “All wage negotiations are concluded at this council and LSG Sky Chefs SA complies with the agreement and implements the decision taken accordingly,” she said.

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The Star

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