More than 20 workers downed tools after a pay dispute with their employer, Tranacon Construction.
The company is currently responsible for the reconstruction and resurfacing of a number of streets in Fourways, including a portion of William Nicol Drive. Johannesburg Roads Agency spokesperson Bertha Peters-Scheepers confirmed that Tranacon had been awarded the contract to undertake road rehabilitation.
The staff, who stopped working on 1 June, alleged that they had been paid less than what they had been promised and their employer had also not paid them for overtime worked.
One worker, whose details are known to Fourways Review said, “Tranacon Construction promised to pay us R150 a day for nine hours of work per day.” He added that their salaries were less than R3 000 a month.
When approached for comment, the manager of Tranacon Construction, who also wished to remain anonymous, said there had been a big misunderstanding. He explained that workers were all paid according to the number of hours worked.
The strikers said although they had spoken to management, many of their concerns had been ignored. Another worker said, “Speaking to management is useless. We are told that many people are looking for jobs and we can walk away if we are unhappy.” He added that management did not accurately capture the number of hours they had worked or take into consideration the extra hours that had been worked by many of the employees.
Management confirmed that they were meeting with the workers individually to have all issues resolved.
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