Nestlé workers on strike for equal work, equal pay

More than 300 workers at Nestlé’s kuGompo City plant have been on a protected strike since Friday, against what they describe as unfair wage disparities and grading inconsistencies in the workplace. Organised by the Agricultural Food and Allied Democratic Workers Union (Afadwu), a Cosatu-affiliated union representing workers in the food and retail sectors, the workers are calling for a fair grading system and equal pay for equal work.

The union says workers performing the same duties within the same departments are being paid differently, with newer employees allegedly placed on lower grades and earning less than the workers they replaced. “All workers are on strike; it’s only managers who are at work. But managers who are in our bargaining scope are also part of the strike. We disagree with the employer. The employer is robbing the newly employed by giving them wrong grades,” said Phikolomzi Ntlazana, an Afadwu organiser.

According to Ntlazana, the union and the employer held a three-day meeting from Tuesday to Thursday, but could not reach an agreement. The union rejected an offer by the employer to fix the grading system for only half of the affected workers

“I am a member of Afadwu and I was employed by the company from 2019. We are striking because we demand our rights. Our wages are not the same even though we are doing the same job. Our salaries depend on which year you were employed,” said Thembela Lawana from Restin.

Lawana expects to be on strike for much longer. “One week of strike action is too little. In 2021, our strike action for the same demands took three months from June to September,” said Thembela.

Amanda Gomba, who has worked for Nestlé for 8 years, also recalled the 2021 strike, when the employer ignored their demands for equal work, equal pay. “Last year again we sent our demands to the company, but still they ignored us. We want to do away with the grading system,” said Gomba. Wage disparities at the company appear to be linked to employees’ length of service, with some workers who had been employed for 5 years earning more than those who had recently joined the company. The difference was based on grading structures and the positions employees occupied, she explained. Moreover, workers felt exploited because, despite working overtime, their wages were insufficient to adequately support their families.

Asanda Mpayipheli from Duncan Village, who works in the ‘Aero’ department, said the employer is dividing the workers and keeps changing policies to favour the company without consultation. “We are working hard but we don’t see the fruits of our labour, and the company policies are not fair. It can be 6 of us from 1 department doing the same work, but our salaries and treatment are different. How can you work to your full potential if someone who works with you in the same line earns R20,000 while you are earning R11,000?” asked Asanda.

Mathemba Xhaso from Amalinda, who has worked for Nestlé for 14 years, said that the bad working conditions compelled them to strike. “We are fighting for equal work, equal pay. You see here in front of the company premises there is Fidelity Guard security company hired by Nestlé to protect itself from our peaceful strike but at the same time the company is refusing to pay us more,” said Xhaso.