Dissatisfied employees of a locally based brick making plant decided to down their tools and voice their grievances, engaging in strike action, by picketing outside the allegedly 'unlawful plant' this past Tuesday (February 20).
The protest occurred at the entrance of Itireleng, near Laudium, where employees blocked off all access to trucks entering the Vibro Bricks premises.
According to its website, Vibro Bricks describes itself as a company that has ‘been in the foreground of delivering concrete kerbs, paving and bricks in the domestic industrial and decorative areas of the construction industry for the past 24 years.’
Despite Vibro's experience in the industry and its delivery of 'quality goods', workers alleged that little to nothing has been done to improve their working conditions. The workers also complained of working long hours with a measly minimum wage.
Speaking to the Laudium Sun, strike participant, Makayla Majola (30), said that the employees of Vibro had simply had enough of what they deemed a “great injustice” against them. Makayla alleged that the workers received remuneration below minimum wage and were forced to work under squalid conditions.
“They want us to work hard every day, but Vibro is not willing to pay us better salaries so that we can survive and provide for our families. We are treated very badly by management and we must endure it because they know we need the jobs. But now enough is enough. We want our salaries increased and we want to be treated like human beings, not animals,” a fuming Makayla claimed.
“We don't want promises anymore, we just want to be able to work for the proper amount of money and not the peanuts they are giving us. If our demands are not met, we will stone every single Vibro truck and block off the road daily,” Makayla warned.
When the Laudium Sun approached Vibro for comment, the management denied the allegations made by the striking workers and curtly said that negotiations are currently on-going with the displeased employees and that they did not want the matter to be addressed on a public platform.
Frustrated employees protested at the entrance of Itireleng, near Vibro Bricks, this past Tuesday (Feb 20.)
Vibro employee, Makayla Majola, says she is fed up with earning peanuts.