BIG-BEND:Crooks Plantation, an agricultural company might face a strike action by its employees after almost all the workers voted to down their tools in an exercise conducted by the Coalition,Mediation and Arbitration Commission(CMAC).
The voting exercise, according to documents in our possession, was conducted this week in terms of the Industrial Relations Act of 2000 as amended.
On Tuesday 30th January 2024, Kholiwe Dludlu, the CMAC Case Management Officer released the voting results suggesting that, 88.4% of the workers voted in favour of the strike, only six percent(6%) were against it.
Sanele Sihlongonyane, the Branch Chairperson of the Swaziland Agricultural Workers Union(SAPWU) has confirmed that, employees of the Crooks Plantation voted to go on strike.
“We can confirm that, the workers are going on strike but, we are still willing to engage the employers in a dialogue to prevent the possible disruption or halting of operations”, said the Swaziland Agricultural Workers Union(SAPWU) Branch Chairperson.
A questionnaire was sent to Winile Mthimkhulu,the Crooks Plantation Human Resources Manager,however, she had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
On another note, the workers who are intending to go on strike are demanding amongst others, education and severance allowance, retirement gratuity and funeral assistance.
The employees are also demanding 12.5% salary increment and provision of transport to and from Nkilongo,description of jobs and transport to health facilities.
Underpaid Crooks Plantation workers vote to go on strike,Agricultural Workers Union says “we are still willing to engage with employer”.