NEASA AND PCA CONDEMN "MOST VIOLENT STRIKE IN HISTORY"
The National Employers Association of South Africa (NEASA) and the Plastics Convertors' Association (PCA) have both strongly condemned the violent and destructive nature of the current strike action which was started by NUMSA on Monday, 4 July 2011.
According to NEASA CEO, Gerhard Papenfus, they have been inundated by reports from employers and non-striking employees around the country of severe intimidation, violent behavior, assault and damage to property since the strike begun on Monday,
"This strike is without a doubt one of the bloodiest and violent strikes we have seen to date," Papenfus says. "Whist every employee has the right to a peaceful strike, the current nature of the NUMSA strike is against the rule of law," he says, adding that they have received numerous photographs of property that has been destroyed, employees physically assaulted and striking workers brandishing weapons to support the reports of violence and intimidation.
"It is clear that NUMSA has lost control over their members. We are holding them responsible for every life threatening and violent act of their members, which includes the assault by striking workers with sjamboks and knobkieries, damage to property, intimidation of customers and non-striking employees as well as the refusal of entry of replacement labour", says Johan Pieterse, CEO of PCA.
Meanwhile, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has also been criticized for allowing the striking workers to intimidate them. Employers are claiming that SAPS is literally "standing by whilst property are being destroyed, without lifting a finger to stop these assaults", and in some cases are even refusing to take down affidavits by injured parties.