General workers from a catering organisation that does contract work for Stellenbosch University (SU) recently reached an agreement on worker pay with their employers.
This is according to Songezo Mzili, a general worker for Fedics, the catering division of Tsebo Solutions Group (TSG). Fedics is contracted to SU, according to Mzili.
The agreement was reached in a meeting held between the directors and workers on 22 July, according to Mzili. In this meeting, the general workers and the TSG directors came to an agreement regarding the structure of the workers’ salaries, stated Mzili.
Seen above are workers for Fedics picketing for an increase in their salaries. VIDEO: Supplied/Shaiyene Fritz
Workers’ struggles
The meeting followed a picket held by a group of workers at the Tienie Louw Center at SU on 20 July, according to Lauren Kwenda, a general worker for Fedics. The workers’ salaries had not been increased since 2015, claimed Kwenda, adding that this is what led to the picketing.
The workers picketed during their lunch break, where they expressed their frustration at how their salaries are handled by TSG, according to Kwenda. “Some of us have been struggling with this for nearly 10 years,” she claimed.
Songezo Mzili (left), Marco Peterse (middle) and Lauren Kwenda (right) are general workers for Fedics, the catering division of Tsebo Solutions Group. “We [the workers] experience unequal pay and we don’t have hourly rates,” claimed Kwenda. PHOTO: Liam Abercrombie
“There’s a lady who has worked for the company for 25 years, earning R7 000 [per month]. She is over 60 years old, and for her 25-year service, she was given just R4 000 [as a retirement bonus],” claimed Marco Peterse, a general worker for Fedics. “I don’t think that’s fair at all.”
“We haven’t signed anything for now where we agree to [the directors’] terms, because there will be a follow-up meeting on Monday [25 July],” according to Mzili. “In this meeting, we will be agreeing on the actual numbers,” Mzili said with reference to the salary negotiations.
“[The directors of Tsebo Solutions Group (TSG)] threatened to take disciplinary action against [general workers of TSG] for picketing because they called it a protest and said it’s illegal,” claimed Lauren Kwenda, a general worker for Fedics. VIDEO: Supplied/Lauren Kwenda
“[The directors] said that, since they’ve reached an agreement with us, they have to go to the head office and calculate the numbers before coming back to us on Monday [25 July] to see if the agreement will fit with their budget for this financial year,” explained Mzili.
“Fedics has been fully committed in attaining the full understanding and all facts pertaining to the protest action in a constructive and structured manner,” stated Monica van der Spuy, head of client service and Public Relations (PR) at Fedics, in written correspondence with MatieMedia.
“Discussions are currently still underway with all relevant parties to ensure a timeous resolution and that service to our clients continues promptly,” said Van der Spuy.