24 May 2024
About 50 workers picketed outside SG Convenience’s warehouse in Glen Anil on Friday. Workers across the country downed tools on Monday for better wages. Photo: Tsoanelo Sefoloko
SG Convenience truck drivers and general workers, who are affiliated with the Dynamic People’s Union (DPYUSA) of South Africa in Gauteng, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, downed tools this week.
The strike happening at the company’s warehouses across the country started on Monday. Workers are demanding a 15% increase, subsidised medical aid and better working conditions from the distribution company.
On Friday about 50 striking workers picketed outside the company’s warehouse in Glen Anil in the north of Durban.
The union’s Takalani Thongoane said their attempts to resolve the workers’ complaints with the company have been fruitless. “We will try by all means to talk to them until they respond to our demands. Management has threatened to go to court but they know very well that what we are doing is right,” said Thongoane.
Michael Quma, a manager at SG Convenience, told GroundUp, “We have been having back-to-back meetings with the employees, trying to find a solution. I can’t really tell when the solution is going to be,” said Quma.
Driver Sthenjwa Zondi said: “When driving long distances, they do not even give us a meal allowance. We have to use our money. We want the company to recognise our union so that it will be easy for us to raise our demands through the union.”
The strike is ongoing.