Strike action by Rhodes Food employees enters its seventh day as workers protest over poor working conditions and long hours.
The company produces many ready-to-eat meals for Woolworths, which will affect the accessibility of many go-to items on shelves.
The National Association of South African Workers (NASA) say workers will continue the strike until their demands are met.
WATCH: They continue to sing as they wait for their employers to engage them about their demands. pic.twitter.com/fJidWfhdWD
— Newsnote (@NewsnoteNetwork) May 18, 2021
One of the grievances includes the Aeroton plant being too cold, which some female workers blame for their miscarriages.
According to NASA spokesperson Thabang Ramapulana workers have requested PPE’s because the fridges are too cold.
“Management is not taking their staff seriously. Employers have been raising their issues for a year, requesting PPE’s because the plant is too cold and management have not provided.”
Also read: Mom sends child to school with non-alcoholic cider, causes furore
Other demands include family responsibility leave, getting paid for overtime and working weekends.
Workers claim that management at Rhodes Food has not addressed them since they started striking a week ago and their cries have fallen on deaf ears.
In addition to producing pies and pastries under a private label for Woolworths and the Corner Bakery franchise chain, Rhodes Food also produces two of its own brands, namely Magpie and Ma Baker.
Woolworths online food store has already marked some items of pies and quiche as out-of-stock.
Rhodes Food management have declined to comment.
