The strike by Sea Harvest workers demanding better pay and improved working conditions entered its second day. With solidarity support from workers at Selecta, a subsidiary of Sea Harvest, Sea Harvest workers at the production plants in the Waterfront and Airport industria, are demanding an across-the-board salary increase of 8% while the employer is offering 6,5%.

Independent Commercial Hospitality and Allied Workers Union (Ichawu) shopsteward at Viking Sea Food Centre, bought by Sea Harvest in 2018, Nkosana Ngubo said that they have issues with hourly rates that are not consistent for workers doing the same job. “You find that there are general workers whose hourly rate is R31 whilst others earn R27. We are not treated with respect and dignity as people who make profits for the company. The cost of living is high but they do not want to give us what is due to us,” he said.

Another shopsteward at the plant, Lungisa Botha said that the high turnover of personnel at the company is a challenge for the union. “We are still dealing with issues that were negotiated three years ago. I’m not sure how many times they have changed the HR manager and every time we need to start from scratch with a new manager,” he said.

A worker at Selecta, Lumka Makhohliso told Elitsha that they support the strike because they will also soon need the support of their fellow union members when they take on the company on issues of incentive bonuses and leave days. They are only allowed 2 leave days a month and forfeit a performance bonus if they take 3 days leave, she said. “We are part of the same union and we believe an injury to one is an injury to all.”

In a statement released yesterday, the company said that it was still willing to negotiate in good faith with the union. Ichawu’s organiser, Leo Bottoman said they are also willing to negotiate if the company presents a new offer.