Municipal workers union supports farm workers' demands

Imogen Vollenhoven
15January 2013

The South African Municipal workers union in all nine provinces particularly the the Western Cape supports the farmworkers’ strike in the pursuit of a living wage. 

Deputy Provicial Secretary Kurt Ziervogel said 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.

Ziervogel adds that these wages clearly cannot sustain the livelihood of a farm worker, or any worker for that matter.

 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.