Union to intensify strike at Mustek

The Communication Workers Union says it will intensify its strike at JSE-listed information and communications technology supplier Mustek after a meeting with CEO David Kan on Tuesday failed to break the impasse on employees ’ demands including a 20% wage increase.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) says it will intensify its strike at JSE-listed information and communications technology supplier Mustek after a meeting with CEO David Kan failed to break the impasse on employees’ demands including a 20% wage increase.

The strike has disrupted Mustek ’ s production line and operations as workers from the sales, production, transport and packing divisions refuse to return to work until they have received a positive response to their demands from the company management.

While Mustek’s operations were affected during the Covid19 national lockdown, the company ’ s revenue for the year ended June surged 9.4% to R6.4bn from R5.85bn in the previous financial year.

On top of the 20% wage increase, the workers also demand a R3,000 housing subsidy, a provident fund and that the company contributes 50% to their medical aid.

The 20% demand is far above inflation, with consumer inflation, measured by the consumer price index (CPI), slowing to 2.1% in May, the lowest since September 2004, Stats SA data showed in July.

A worker who did not want to be named for fear of victimisation said: “The strike has been simmering for quite some time because the company was just not willing to meet us halfway on our demands.”

Another said: “One of our concerns is that the company unlawfully fired our two shop stewards last week, claiming they had not observed social distancing, but we see this as intimidation of workers. We want them reinstated.”

The employee said workers are paying medical aid out of their own pockets and want Mustek to contribute 50% to the costs. They also demand that lowest-paid workers, who earn R5,000-R7,000, “should at least take home R10,000 per month”, the worker said.

CWU general secretary Aubrey Tshabalala told Business Day before meeting Kan on Tuesday that the company had refused to engage with them on the demands and had instead told the workers to strike if they want to.

The production line has shut down over the past four days and they are now trying to blame it on violence. But we are saying show us at least one stone that was thrown by workers,” he said.

Mustek spokesperson Nicole Orr did not respond to questions sent to her. …