Protesting security guards must prepare to embark on a national strike on April 3, the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) told thousands of marchers in Johannesburg on Friday afternoon.
”For now I can say … prepare to come back here on April 3,” said Satawu’s security division national director Jackson Simons.
”What is happening is that big company owners are prepared to settle for 11%, but their negotiators are singing a different tune.”
He later told journalists that company owners had approached the unions outside of meetings, telling them they were prepared to settle for 11%.
The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration’s (CCMA) Lusanda Myoli said on Friday afternoon that talks were underway between all the parties involved in the security industry strike.
”If settlement is not reached, parties will reconvene to continue with the mediation process,” she said.
Telling protesters to disperse peacefully on their way home, Simons added: ”But I know the police will provoke you because they think you want to take their jobs.”
He said police felt threatened around security guards ”because they know that you are trained to use firearms. What they don’t know is that you left them at home.”
Simons said the strike would continue until 6am Saturday.
”That means that those who work the night shift will not be working tonight.”
Litter was scattered around Beyers Naude Square after the protest, where security guards had earlier gone on the rampage, ripping branches off trees.
Even after being urged by Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) president Willie Madisha to protest peacefully, the guards turned on a uniformed security guard, assaulted him and then chased away journalists who wanted to film the incident.
Police fired rubber bullets at the protesters while they dragged the guard to join them. Rubber bullets were fired again when protesters hit passersby and cars with sticks. Five people were injured.
The Johannesburg metro police blocked off roads to the square and advised motorists to avoid the central business district entirely.
Protesters set alight a Chubb Security vehicle shortly before lunch in an incident similar to the burning of a vehicle in Pretoria on Thursday.
Guards had a right to be angry, Madisha told demonstrators. ”We know you work under dangerous conditions. Some of you transport money that you don’t have and get killed in the process, but you are not paid enough.”
Cosatu failed to understand why employers did not pay guards a living wage. Security workers needed maternity leave, pensions and rest time.
”If that does not happen, workers affiliated with Cosatu will support you,” he said, promising to mobilise workers in all provinces to join them.
Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has strongly condemned the violence, as has Satawu’s Randall Howard. ”Our position has always been very clear. Satawu is not a union that condones violence or intimidation. We expect our members to protest in a disciplined manner and peacefully,” Howard said.
However, accusing the police of not being ”angelic”, he said they should be responsible and not provocative.
The two-day strike in six provinces was called by 13 unions, representing about 90 000 of 280 000 registered security guards in South Africa.
The unions want an 11% pay increase and better working conditions, including the right to lunch breaks and to use a toilet without being charged with deserting a post on duty.
There are about 283 700 registered guards in South Africa, working for 4 200 registered businesses. About 90 000 are unionised. — Sapa