2 000 workers at Lucky Star down tools to press against unilateral workplace changes at Oceana

MORE than 2 000 permanent and contracted employees at the Lucky Star fish processing plant and its associated Amawandle Pelagic Fishing plant in the Western Cape have initiated an indefinite strike, protesting against what they describe as unilateral and unjust actions by their employer, Oceana Group.

- BANELE GININDZA

The strike, which began on Tuesday before lunchtime, comes in response to Oceana's alleged withdrawal of a seasonal allowance previously granted to workers, replacing it with a 13th cheque that has been deemed inferior.

Dominique Martins, spokesperson for the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) expressed that the workers’ grievances stemmed from a series of detrimental moves by management that undermined union representation and workers’ rights.

Martins said the union was also demanding the reinstatement of the fulltime shop steward position, the reopening of the union office onsite, and the immediate restoration of the previously held seasonal allowance.