Municipal workers support farm workers' demands

The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) in all nine provinces particularly in the Western Cape supports the farmworkers strike in pursuit of a living wage. Farmworkers are the backbone of our food security, yet they receive a slave wage of R69.00 per day, a weekly wage of around R350.00. These wages clearly cannot sustain the livelihood of a farm worker, or any worker for that matter.

The slave wage farmworkers receive perpetuates the poverty cycle of workers in South Africa, which continues to reduce living standards and the quality of life, by not being able to provide workers families with the basics.

What is disturbing is the arrogance of the farmers in the De Doorns area, who are not willing to move above the current R69.00 per day. Farmers are more interested in spending money in the area of security to protect their excessive gains. Farmers cannot be allowed to build empires at the expense of workers.

The South African Municipal Workers Union is currently engaging its members to come out in their numbers to lend support to farmworkers and their struggle for a living wage. We also note with concern the actions of the South African Police who were shooting indiscriminately at workers. This situation cannot be allowed to continue. We call on the parties involved to reach an agreement that will be acceptable to the workers.

Statement issued by SAMWU Western Cape Deputy Provincial Secretary Kurt Ziervogel Provincial Chairperson Lance Veotte, January 14 2013

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