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SAPWU STRIKE ACTION AT CROOKS LIMITED COME TO END

 

Workers listening to leaders speeches (file Picture)
Written by Fundizwi Sikhondze

A strike action that had run for close to a full month at agriculture plantation Crooks Limited recently ended with an agreement between the company and workers organised under the Swaziland  Agricultural  ,Plantations And Allied Workers Union (SAPWU). 

The strike action came after protracted negotiations that were threatening to spill over a new financial year. The end of the strike ,according to the SAPWU President Malungisa Dlamini ,came after intervention efforts by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

Amongst the issues agreed by the two parties were the following;

  • 6.5% salary increase backdated to April 2023.
  • Increase in education allowance from E1,800.00 to E1,900.00.
  • increase in food rations for cane cutters from four (4) rations per month to six (6) rations.
  • Freedom to take leave when needs arise instead of only being allowed to take leave at scheduled periods (at employers convenience)

  • Social facilities such as shops need to be provided since shops are over 15 kilometres away

    • Issues where the parties pledged to continue engagements on include the following;
    • Severance Allowance - There is a 20 days per year severance for workers who have worked for more than 20 years (legally 10 days are prescribed).
    • Clear promotions criteria and processes
    • Demand for gratuity
    • Transport for workers home and to the shops since the farm is far from social amenities like shops.
    • Work transport needs to be suitable for human transport.
    A new season of negotiations for the year 2024 is set to commence as of this month, April 2024  and more reports on this issue will be made in due course by this publication.

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