KYA SANDS – Striking Numsa members are adamant that they will not back down on their demands.
They want 12 percent increase, whereas the employers are willing to give different percentages for three years.
The strikers convened at Kya Sands Industrial, opposite BP Garage on 17 July, and were angered by reports which claimed that they were forcing non-members to join their strike.
According to Ward 96 Councillor Matome Mafokwane, Numsa members are forcing non-members to join the strike.
“We do not force people to join us. This councillor is interfering in our labour issues. He should focus on his politics. You can see, the police are here and we are not violent. We will continue to strike until our demand of 12 percent increase is accepted,” responds Justice Madzhie, one of the Shop Stewards.
Mafokwane says business owners in Kya Sands Industrial are concerned that Numsa strikers went to Directech and demanded that their staff members should join the strike.
“I respect Numsa and their right to strike. But, they should not force non-union members to join if they do not want to. Numsa busses people into Kya Sands and distribute their T-shirts,” argues Mafokwane.
Peter Erasmus of Directech sent an email to Mafokwane, “Today [16 July] our company Directech was yet again the target of the striking Numsa members. A group of about 50 gathered outside our gates and threatened to breakdown the gates and enter our facility.”
Erasmus praises Douglasdale policemen who helped calm the situation during the heated moment. He complied with the union’s demands and allowed them inside the company and the Numsa members talked to his staff.
Erasmus says “After some lengthy negotiations and re-assurance from the police, the union members and some of my staff members reluctantly volunteered to leave the safety of the building and joined the striking group at the gate, not before the union members presented them with forms to join… to our utter dismay.”
A meeting that was going to be held at 2pm on 17 July, between the Numsa members, Mafokwane and business owners, was cancelled by the councillor, citing safety reasons.
Unconfirmed reports alleged that a man was stabbed on Friday for refusing to join the strike.
Douglasdale Police’s spokesperson Balan Muthan could not confirm this incident but said their are policing the area since the strike started last week.
