Paintballs fired at chicken factory workers: strikers

Workers at the County Fair chicken factory in Stellenbosch claim they were fired at with paintball guns while picketing.

The workers claimed they were shot at by security guards while protesting outside the Muldersvlei offices on Monday, the Cape Argus reported.

About 100 people gathered on the R304 outside the offices, marching slowly, singing and waving sticks, sjamboks and posters.

The group were demanding R1500 a week. They claimed they were paid around R499 a week after deductions.

The strike started last Wednesday but factory operations had not ceased at the factory.

Workers claimed casual staff were being bussed in to assist.

"This year we've heard nothing about increases. We've got nothing and they've been quiet," a worker said.

Astral Foods poultry director Theo Delport told the newspaper they had to count costs to keep their heads above water.

"The chicken industry is in crisis at the moment [and is] not performing very well. It's all about affordability, but it doesn't help our cause if the strikers are damaging property," he said.

He denied that shots were fired by security guards.