Durban - Members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) have embarked on a nationwide strike over low wages in the Plastics Sector.
On Tuesday, workers allegedly belonging to Numsa set tyres alight and placed them across Manchester Road in New Germany where the majority of plastic factories are located in KwaZulu-Natal.
Workers were expected to hand over a memorandum of demands to the employers in the plastic manufacturing sector. Motorists have been warned to expect traffic congestion in the Pinetown CBD.
Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, the Numsa National Spokesperson, said workers will march to the Pinetown SAPS.
They are expected to meet representatives from National Employers Association of South Africa, (NEASA) and the Plastic Converters Association of South Africa (PCSA) at the police station to hand over a memorandum of their grievances.
Hlubi-Majola said at least 10 thousand members from more than 450 companies will be embarking on a total national #PlasticsShutdown.
"Until 2016, workers in the Plastics sector have been able to receive the same rights and benefits as workers in Engineering. This is because as Numsa we fought for more than two decades in the Engineering bargaining forum for workers to get improved benefits and wages," he said.
Hlubi-Majola said that the introduction of the Poverty National Minimum Wage by the government has given these employers the courage to undermine workers.
Numsa claims that the employers in the sector are proposing the following:
- Grade H, (which is the lowest grade) minimum wage has been reduced from R40 to R20.
- Leave Enhancement Pay (bonus) has been taken away.
- They have increased hours of work from 40 to 45 per week and they don’t pay overtime
- Leave entitlement of 4 weeks has been down varied – 4th week if you have 4 years’ service has been taken away.
- Introduction of Area category – Outlying areas will be paid 10% less than urban areas (JHB, DBN and CPT).
Hlubi-Majola said their demand was simple: "We are fighting for workers in the Plastics sector to retain the wages and benefits which they fought so hard for. They are the creators of wealth and deserve a living wage and an improved quality of life".