Texray workers want better pay

WORKERS at the Texray textile firm last week downed tools and engaged in a strike demanding better pay.

The two-day strike began on Thursday until the following day.

It is said the workers, who mainly consists of women decided to down their tools after they complained that their wages were not enough. They were demanding 10 percent salary increment in light of the ever increasing commodities.

The company had to seek a court interdict as it said the strike was unlawful. The court granted the interdict.

Swaziland Manufacturing and Allied Workers Union (SMAWU) field officer Polycarp Stewart confirmed knowledge of the strike, but said they were not aware of it until they were called into the factory to calm down the workers. Stewart, who was speaking on behalf of the Interim Secretary General Alfred Dlamini, said the workers went on strike after their demand for a better increment was not met by the factory management.

Stewart said the union only learnt of the strike when they were called by the Texray management so they had to go to talk to the workers, otherwise, they were not part of it.

“The workers just want to get visible increment because it has been a long time since they last got an increase, so they are demanding nothing less than 10 percent,” he said.

He said since Texray employees were their members they had to go down to the factory to talk to them, but it was hard to calm them down as they were incensed by the meagre salaries.

Stewart said they were demanding to know what would become of them since almost every commodity including food was escalating. “We understand that the employers took the matter to court because they viewed the strike as unlawful and the workers were expected to reply why the interdict shouldn’t be made final,” he said.

About two years ago, textile workers engaged in a huge industrial action, where more than 16 000 workers participated.

The strike went on for about two weeks, where they were demanding salary increment and other issues related to their welfare.