The strike against the proposed minimum wage was off to a slow start in Bloemfontein this morning.
By 08:00 only about 100 protesters have gathered in front of the community hall in Batho, south of the CBD.
Andile Zitho, National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa’s (Numsa) provincial secretary for the Northern Cape and Free State, said that the strike is against the current proposed minimum wage of R20 per hour. “As Numsa we are against the proposal and not against the minimum wage.”
Zitho and the individuals who arrived for the strike feel that these are slavery wages and that no one can do anything with R20 per hour.
“The demand to scrap labour brokers in industries is a need. There is no job security and employers exploit workers with the current legislature,” Zitho said.
“We have the right to strike today. We fought for where we are today. The workers have the right. We are also not striking just to fight for ourselves, but we are fighting the battle for future generations.”
Numsa would be satisfied if a minimum wage of R5 000 is proposed but the ideal will be R12 500.
The group will leave from the Batho Hall to the Department of Labour at 10:00 to hand over a memorandum of demands.
Jeretha Oosthuizen
