Farm workers’ strike to resume next week

Picture: Lulama Zenzile

Farm workers in the Western Cape will take to the streets next week following failed pay negotiations with Agri-SA and government, trade union federation Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich has said.

“We’re at the point where the mandate from workers is to resume the strike on 9 January 2013,” said Ehrenreich today.

He said Agri-SA and individual farmers had not offered much in terms of negotiations, and workers had no choice but to continue their industrial action.

Workers are demanding pay of R150 a day. Many are currently earning less than R80 a day.

The strike was suspended last year, following an undertaking that negotiations would continue between workers’ representatives and individual farmers.

This had apparently proved unsuccessful.

At least two people were killed during protests in farming areas between August 27 and December 4 last year.

– Sapa