South Africa: 1,100 Festive Chicken workers continue strike for 13,500 rand
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Sowetan
More than 1,100 employees of Festive Chicken, a subsidiary of Astral Foods, have been on strike since 29 October outside the Olifantsfontein headquarters. They are demanding a monthly wage of 13,500 rand, protective equipment and permanent jobs, and say the labour court granted them the right to protest.
More than 1,100 workers at Festive Chicken, a subsidiary of the food group Astral Foods (brands Goldi and County Fair), are continuing their strike begun on 29 October, according to Sowetan. They are demanding a monthly wage of 13,500 rand, while many earn between 4,500 and 5,000 rand, as well as adequate personal protective equipment and permanent positions.
The strikers, employed at a factory in Olifantsfontein and on farms in the West Rand and Delmas, say management is not negotiating seriously and threatens them with disciplinary action and dismissal by letter. On 30 October, the labour court ruled in their favour: the strike is declared protected and the company is barred from disciplining or dismissing the strikers, according to the order cited by Sowetan.
Astral Foods has filed a counter-application, which was heard on 6 November. Sam Szoke-Burke, a lawyer with the NGO Lawyers for Human Rights, which represents the employees, is awaiting a decision on the court's jurisdiction.
