The stand-off started when the trucks were stopped at the entrance to Thembalethu and prevented from collecting workers or exiting the township.
Christie van Greunen, a director of the company, received a phone call from one of the drivers at 07:00 notifying him of the situation.
Van Greunen rushed to the scene, which already had a heavy police presence in place, and tried to address the volatile crowd via a megaphone asking that those who wanted to work get on the trucks. This drew a nasty reaction from the 150 protesters and police later used a stun grenade to disperse the crowd, enabling the trucks to make a quick getaway.
Fawu Union representative, Thys Swartbooi, said the union will try to remedy the situation with an intervention as the current status of the action is one of an illegal unprotected strike. Swartbooi, who met with Van Greunen Boerdery on Wednesday 29 October, said that Fawu is now recognised as the union on the farms and is currently busy with the verification process. The first deductions for membership will begin tomorrow, Friday 7 November.
Swartbooi said the two issues at play are the new clock-in system and the fact that an administration and transport deduction is made from their wages.
In a statement issued by Van Greunen Boerdery the company acknowledges that the new clock-in and pay system seem to be at the root of the unrest. Van Greunen said it is mainly the seasonal workers, who aren't familiar with the system, who are unhappy. "We can only clarify the system and iron out the administration deductions once calm has returned."
On Wednesday morning Van Greunen told the George Herald that it seems as if the situation has stabalised. "Most of the workers are back at work and we are busy sorting out the misunderstanding."
The Public order Police (Pops) were still monitoring the situation later in the day, but no further protest action was expected.
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A stun grenade disperses the crowd, enabling the vehicles to leave.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: MYRON RABINOWITZ
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