Sea Harvest workers go on strike

Scores of workers from Sea Harvest have embarked on a strike demanding increased wages and improved working conditions. Working on-shore as truck drivers, general workers, welders, forklift drivers and pipe fitters, they picketed alongside Buitengracht street in the Cape Town city centre and outside the Cape Town International Airport. Led by their union, the Independent Commercial Hospitality and Allied Workers Union (Ichawu), the workers are demanding an across the board salary increase of 8% whilst the company is offering 6.5%.

Ichawu’s organiser and convener of the strike, Leo Bottoman said that they are trying to close the gap between the salaries of the workers and those who occupy management positions. Their initial demand was a 10% increase but they settled on 8% for every worker. “The gap between what these workers earn and what the management earn is triple or even four times more,” he said.

Albert Makele, a quality controller at the company and union shopsteward said that they want their rate per hour to be aligned to that of its competitor, I&J, as they are the same bosses. According to him, a general worker rate per hour at Sea Harvest is R34 whilst a general worker at I&J earns R54. The workers are also demanding a minimum wage of R7,000 a month and the implementation of an employee share scheme.

“We are also demanding a cold room allowance and the food allowance for night shift to be increased from R80 to R120 as one cannot have a decent meal from R80. When those who work in the cold room retire they always complain of arthritis because they were exposed to the cold conditions in the workplace. The protective gear that they give is not enough and does not help,” said Bottoman.

Forklift driver and father of four, Justin Peterson, said that he is exposed to cold conditions for the 9 hours of his workday. “The fridges are set at -18%, so you can imagine how cold it is. They give us freezer suits, kidney belts, balaclava and socks. We are three drivers and a casual and we have to divide all the work between us. I earn only R43 per hour and i have to feed my four children and take care of my wife from that,” he said.

Bottoman said that the grading of the workers by the company has been neglected for the longest time and this is at the centre of the low pay rates within the company. “You will find out that people who were employed after me have a rate that is better than mine,” said Peterson.

Sea Harvest’s conditions of employment have come under fire recently after one of its fishing vessels capsized resulting in 11 fishermen being lost at sea, and presumed drowned in May. Their bodies have not been found and an investigation by the South African Maritime Safety Authority is still ongoing. In October a fire broke out on another Sea Harvest vessel in Gaansbaai prompting Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy, to order urgent safety inspections of all commercial fishing vessels in South Africa.

Sea Harvest has stated that it is still committed to negotiating with the striking workers. “The company is deeply disappointed by the union’s refusal to accede to its offer, which it believes is fair and reasonable, especially amid the current challenging operating environment that is putting many businesses around the world under crushing pressure. The company remains committed to negotiating in good faith for the long-term sustainability of the business, which will enable it to continue creating sustainable jobs for the long-term well-being of its staff and looks forward to resuming negotiations in the interest of all affected parties,” said the group corporate affairs manager, Anthea Abraham.