Workers up in arms

Update Video

MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEO - Several workers from SeaVuna Fishing Company held a demonstration in a bid for higher wages outside entrance two of the Mossel Bay harbour early on Monday morning, 24 June.

The demonstrators, who were very disciplined at the time the Mossel Bay Home Ads News was there, were upset that they were apparently locked out of their work premises when they arrived for duty at 07:00 on Monday.

Shop steward Sharon Kaselo said the workers had been in wage negotiations since 18 June with SeaVuna management. "Workers are demanding a 15.6% raise, and the company raise is at 5.5%. We could not reach an agreement.

"We do know that 15.6% is really a high increase for this year," Kaselo said. She said workers were prepared to negotiate and reiterated that the workers were not on a strike.

"The workers feel we are not being taken seriously," Kaselo added.

Watch a video below.

The SeaVuna managing director told the Home Ads News that wage negotiations were at a sensitive stage. "I cannot conduct wage negotiations through the media."

Both the shop stewards and management confirmed that wage negotiations were ongoing and that a further meeting was planned for later on Monday afternoon, 24 June.

Workers resolved not to disband, but to await the outcome of the negotiations at the entrance to the harbour.

"It is time that SeaVuna customers saw us outside the gates," a worker said.

SeaVuna shop steward Sharon Kaselo explains to workers that further wage negotiations are planned for Monday afternoon.

A large group of workers gathered at the gates to the Mossel Bay harbour from before 07:00 on Monday, 24 June. They were denied access to their workplace, SeaVuna Fishing Company. Workers and management are in wage negotiations.