Joseph Chirume reports at Elitsha that about 80 Heineken Beverages workers at the Gqeberha plant are on an indefinite strike since 16 August due to disagreements over new work shifts.
IN SUMMARY:
- Workers are upset about working weekends without proper overtime pay. Saturday is considered a normal workday, and Sunday is paid at 1.5x the wage instead of double.
- Siyathemba Notununu, a Fawu shop steward, says conditions have worsened since Heineken took over Distell South Africa in 2021, and workers were not consulted about the new overtime rules.
- A court order after the Heineken takeover required that worker conditions should improve, but some employees resigned due to poor conditions.
- Heineken’s spokesperson, Millicent Maroga, denied the claim of inadequate consultation, stating the company has engaged with workers and shift changes are temporary based on customer needs.
- Heineken has taken the strike to court, calling it unlawful, while workers continue their peaceful protest over unilateral company changes.
- Nolubabalo Sidinana, another shop steward, says her salary is lower than when working for Distell, making it hard to support her children as a single mother.
- Thembelani Maqhina, a plant operator, said the work environment is toxic and claims that colleagues in Gauteng earn more for the same job.
- Workers say temporary shifts exploit local workers with short-term contracts, and management ignores CCMA orders.
- Heineken remains optimistic about finding a resolution, but the strike will continue until workers’ demands are met.
