Pikitup workers strike

Workers at waste management company Pikitup embarked on a strike and demonstrated outside the company's head office on Monday morning, the company said.

"There are demonstrations outside the head office building. It is a bit chaotic... only a fraction of them turned up for work," said spokeswoman Desiree Ntshingila.

Pikitup obtained a court interdict to stop the strike, which it considers illegal, at the weekend.

Ntshingila said a meeting with the Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) would be scheduled for later on Monday.

In a statement on Sunday, Pikitup said it would not tolerate an unprotected strike.

Managing director Amanda Nair said workers' grievances included the implementation of biometric access control, breathalyser tests for drivers, and transport for workers.

She said the current transport system for workers was not sustainable and a new solution was needed.

"Previously, Pikitup employees requiring transportation were picked up and dropped off at central points on a daily basis using Pikitup trucks."

"We are now trying to implement contingency plans to ensure that services are not disrupted."

Samwu shopsteward Phumlile Shange said the interdict had been communicated to the union, but that the message had not filtered through to members because it had been issued at the weekend.

Apart from being unhappy about transport, the workers were unhappy that management had stopped their half-work day once a month and changed it to a full work day, said Shange.

"The union is set to meet with management to resolve these issues."