In August this year farm workers rose up in Cape Town,
South Africa. Their call: R150 per day. Currently farm workers are earning
between R60-R70 per day. However, there have been reports of workers,
especially women, who earn less than this. Farm workers are the most
marginalised workers in our economy, with very little unionisation.
Wine is one of South Africa’s biggest exports. According to the statistics released by the South African Wine Industry, wine producers earned a total income of over R3 619 million in 2011.[1]
The strike initially started in
Du Doorns in the Hex River Valley in November and spread to at the very least
15 farming districts. Organisations working on farms have united under the
banner the Coalition for Farm Workers Living Wage and Decent Living Conditions.
In late November, the strike was
suspended to give government time to properly address the issue of decent
living wages. In this case it is the South African government that sets the
minimum wage and not farmers.
After being assured by the
Minister of Agriculture – Tina Joemat Petterson that government would increase
wages by 4 December, labour minister Mildred Olifant reneged, stating that
wages can only be adjusted only in March 2013.
Strike action resumed on 4
December with mass action in every affected town. It was here that two
prominent activists – Mercia Andrews and Denia Jansen – were arrested and held
overnight in jail with two more people. 18 others in the Citrusdal area were
also arrested and later released.
During this time the Western Cape general secretary of
Cosatu, Tony Ehrenreich declared an end to the strike, saying that negotiations
would be done on a farm to farm basis in an agreement with Agri-SA. Cosatu’s
position is that the strike will resume on 9 Januay 2012, if negotiations
failto deliver on a satisfactory solution. Despite the union’s statement and
continued intimidation at the hands of the SAPS and private security companies
hired by farmers, the Coalition for Farm Workers insist that the strike will
continue until the workers themselves decide to call it off.
Lauren Paremoer
Rita Edwards Branch - New Women's Movement
ritaedwards.nwmbranch@gmail.com
Rita Edwards Branch - New Women's Movement
ritaedwards.nwmbranch@gmail.com
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