UPDATE: Strike at PFG allegedly illegal
Failure to warn management of a planned strike has resulted in the company allegedly declaring today's action at PFG Building Glass illegal.
Hours into the Numsa strike at PFG Building Glass, management says they were not given 48 hours notice of a strike, making the strike illegal.
After holding an initial meeting this morning, a second meeting between the company’s managers and Numsa representatives is underway and PFG has acknowledged the Addie’s request for comment and promised to make a statement later today.
Numsa shop stewart, Zimasile Nkoko addressed the crowd after this first meeting.
According to Nkoko, management has stated that although they were not given 48 hours notice of the strike and they therefore see it as an illegal action, they were prepared to meeting with Numsa at noon for further discussions.
He asked the strikers to remain calm and not to get violent while Numsa deals with the company.
Workers were striking due to alleged complaints that they are unhappy with the work conditions and that the company allegedly does not want to allow them to be members of Numsa.
Instead, the company wants the workers to make use of their labour brokers.
Some workers told journalists on the scene, that they are also not pleased with their wages, stating that they cannot live on such a small salary for the amount of hours they work during the week.
One worker who did not want to be named says they work eight hours from Monday to Thursday and 12 hours on Fridays and Saturdays, only getting Sundays off.
He comments: “How can we live on such a small salary? We can barely buy food, not to mention buying a car or being able to afford a house.”
The workers gathered at the site at 4.30am and had a peaceful strike.
