Solidarity protest in Western Cape for striking CHEP workers in Gauteng

Dozens of activists from Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Ceres protested outside Contracta-Force offices in Somerset West on Thursday in solidarity with the striking CHEP SA workers. Supported by the Casual Workers Advice Office (CWAO) and Simunye Workers Forum, CHEP workers in Germiston, Johannesburg, have been on a protected strike since 21 August and are demanding that their employment status be permanent, a monthly salary increase of R2,500, medical aid, study allowance, branded protective clothing and a R5,000 housing subsidy.

Contracta-Force is a labour broker that “sells workers to CHEP SA in order to make profits”, according to the activists. “Contracta-Force has no factories, no machinery – it produces nothing. It makes profits by selling workers,” reads the memorandum that the protesters handed over to the company.

Providing background to the strike, Nandi Vangqa-Mgijima from CWAO stated that some of the strikers have been working as casual workers for as long as 20 years. “The Labour Appeal Court granted a ruling to say: take these workers and make them permanent. But, the company is not adhering to the ruling and the workers at CHEP SA in Johannesburg are now on strike,” said Vangqa-Mgijima.

Message of support

Zama Timbela, from activist organisation Intlungu YaseMatyotyombeni Movement, said that they support the strike and the demands of the workers. “Communities and workers share the same struggle as they are oppressed by the same capitalist system,” he said.

Rosy Fredericks from Ubuntu Rural Woman & Youth Movement said that they support the struggle for the CHEP workers to be made permanent as that would benefit their children and families. “Why is it so easy for the employers to fire workers but when it comes to doing right by the workers, they take forever?” asked Fezeka Sigqumo from Housing Assembly.

Serge Ndayegamiye from Africa Revival Foundation, which is dedicated to defending refugees and destitute locals, said they stand in solidarity with the striking CHEP workers because they know that foreign nationals face the same exploitation as locals.

CHEP SA is part of the Australian-based Brambles group that supplies pallets to freight companies.

Hlubi Mayekiso from Intlungu YaseMatyotyombeni reading the memorandum of demands addressed to Contracta-Force. Video by Mzi Velapi

Eric Lauwrens from B.L. Attorneys accepted the memorandum on behalf of Contracta-Force and promised to convey the message to the company.