Connie Mulder Centre workers down tools
We cannot offer salary increases we cannot afford.
Workers of the Connie Mulder centre embarked on a protest action outside the business premises to demonstrate their anger towards what they call a ridiculous pay on 30 September.
The Centre is home to 190 disabled adults and is situated on the outskirts of Wilbotsdal.
According to Sinah Motsumi who belongs to the Mine Engineering and Distributors Workers Union of South Africa (Medwusa) who speaks on behalf of the workers, most of them earn between R1600 and R3000 per month.
“We are fed up with not only the salary we get from management, but the treatment as well.
“How exactly are we expected to make a descent living?
“If anything, the salary is an insult to us, especially since the company receives funding from the Lottery Board and other institutions.
“We demand a pay rise and we will continue to strike until we receive it,” says Motsumi
Although there was little disruption on the roads, the strikers have vowed to intensify their actions should management not meet their demands.
They are calling for an increase of 7,5 per cent for workers who earn less than R3000 and 6,3 per cent for those who receive R3000 and more.
According to CEO of the centre Godwin Henney, they cannot afford the increase that workers are asking for.
“As a Non-Profit Organization (NPO), we are subsidised by the state.
“We cannot offer increases we cannot afford,” says Henney.
He adds that despite the strike, all is well at the centre and work will go on as usual.
“Dedicated staff members have jumped in to assist with the workload and will continue to do so for as long as the strike persists,” says Henney.
