Bitter, not sweet! Strikers call for Mister Sweet boycott

23 community-based organisations and non-governmental organisations are calling for the boycotting of Mister Sweet products during a strike by workers at its Wadeville factory which is entering its fourth week. The workers have been on strike action since the 19^th of August and are demanding a living wage of R19,500.

Mister Sweet produces gums, jellies, marshmallows, licorice, chocolate-coated treats, and other sweets, and employs about 600 workers at the factory. The workers, supported by Simunye Workers Forum, have protested outside the factory since they decided to down tools. “I am currently earning R6,000 which is very little and not enough to cover my individual and family’s ongoing normal expenses,” said Zintle Buthelezi. Buthelezi, a packer from Buhle Park, said further that they are not going to stop the strike until Mister Sweet concedes to their demand for a living wage. Most permanent workers at the factory support the strike, she said, but the company had hired labour broker workers to undermine workers’ unity.

Malusi Tukela, a machine operator who is originally from Limpopo told Elitsha that he has been working for Mister Sweet for 10 years and is tired of super exploitation. “Our major demand is money, good working conditions and justice.  Andrew, our boss, is still racist and the machines we are using in the factory are dangerous. Recently, one of our colleague’s hands was cutoff by the machine. We don’t have medical aid, and our provident fund is very low,” said Tukela.

Another worker David Phala, who is also from Limpopo, complained that he has been working for the company since 2016, but his salary has not gone up. He is earning R7,200 per month. He said their boss is telling them there is no money while the company is raking in millions in profit: “Our company is not only operating in South Africa but also in other African countries such as Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Swaziland.”

Another machine operator, Bheki Zwane from Katlehong said that as workers on the production line, they are struggling to make ends meet. His job includes being a cooker and mixing the ingredients for sweets. He said that he cannot survive on his salary of R6,000 since he spends R2,000 per month on transport alone. “Imagine I am paying rent, buying food, have kids and a family to support. How can I survive and do all these things on a mere six thousand rands,” said an angry Zwane.

One of the leaders of the strike, Abigail Mangena from Germiston reported that the strike was the initiative of the workers themselves. The Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) shopstewards operating at the factory, she said, are not supporting their demand of a living wage, instead wanting workers to accept a 7% increase which is only about R500. According to Mangena, their demand for a wage increase is not new but goes as far back as 2018 when they started engaging the company to improve their working conditions.  

Fawu’s spokesperson, Dominique Martin confirmed the union is not participating in the strike because their members settled for the 7% offer which they negotiated as the majority union at the factory.

Mister Sweet was bought by Premier FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) in 2021. Spokesperson for Premier, Siobhan O’Sullivan refused to answer specific questions posed by Elitsha, referring us to their media statement instead. “In April 2024, Premier reached an agreement with the union, Ucimeshawu [United Chemical Industries Mining Electrical State Health and Aligned Workers’ Union], to implement a 7,0% wage increase backdated to January 2024, which is above average wage inflation.

Whilst this was accepted by the majority, some employees rejected the increase, demanding a R19,500 per month basic wage and a R15/hour increase for workers earning more than R19,500. The matter was referred to the CCMA by employee representatives and no agreement was achieved. Notice of intention to strike was received from the workers forum on 14 August 2024. Premier issued a lockout notice for employees participating in the strike,” reads their statement.

According to Simunye Workers Forum, the company has applied for an interdict against the strike, which will be heard in court on Tuesday. Premier made R921-million in profit which was an increase of 15.8% from the previous year. Ighsaan Schroeder, the coordinator of Casual Workers Advice Office, a major supporter of the strike action, said Premier is a rich company linked to the Shoprite multi-billionaire Christo Wiese. One of the five richest people in South Africa, Wiese is the largest shareholder of Premier, according to Schroeder.