28 June 2024
Workers at the Ribas Manufacturers factory in Sandton, Johannesburg downed tools on Friday morning to demand a higher wage increase from their employer. Photo: Kimberly Mutandiro
About 100 workers downed tools at the Ribas Manufacturers in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Friday morning to demand a bigger wage increase.
Most of the workers are affiliated with the General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA) and the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU).
Ribas makes and distributes a range of condiments under the TOP Brand franchise and Cash&Carry house brand sauces. These are distributed across the country.
On Friday, workers told GroundUp they would continue striking until their employer increased their wage by R4 per hour rather than the R1.75 offered by the company. This follows deadlocked wage negotiations between the company and GIWUSA representatives in May.
The workers earn about R27.58 per hour (about R5,845 a month), but they say it’s not enough to cover their groceries, transport and electricity as the cost of living has risen. Workers claim they work 10 hours shifts but only get one 30-minute lunch break.
“We have workers who have been with the company for more than 10 years, and they are earning a minimum wage, which is too little. Workers also do not have proper working gear. Despite raising all these issues, the employer is refusing to meet our demands. The strike will continue until our demands are met,” said Sipho Linda from GIWUSA.
Thulani Ndhlela, a shop steward and packer at the company, said workers were entitled to an increment in May, but it was not implemented due to disagreements with the union.
“We have children at school and the money we earn is not enough. The employer should at least meet us halfway because the cost of living is too high,” said Ndhlela.
Another striking worker, Thembi Maake, said she spends most of her salary on transport. “It’s as if we are working for nothing. The increment we are asking for will make a great difference. All we want is to be able to look after our children,” she said.
GroundUp made several attempts to contact the company by email and telephone on Friday. The person answering the landline said the company would not be commenting on the workers’ strike.