AT least four Aspen Pharmacare employees were arrested and 10 were injured when they clashed with police during a wage increase protest at East London’s Wilsonia plant.
More than 500 employees affiliated to the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers Union (Ceppwawu) and the SA Chemicals Workers’ Union (Sacwu) downed tools yesterday morning.
Sacwu negotiator Terrence Ntati said at least four employees were arrested and 10 were injured when police fired teargas and rubber bullets.
Ntati said the workers decided to strike after salary increase talks between the employer and unions deadlocked earlier this month.
“They are offering us 7% but we want nothing less than 10%.”
Yesterday, about 200 striking workers were singing outside the premises, acrid fumes rose from smoldering tyres and armed police were keeping a keen watch.
The strikers said they officially downed tools at 6am and an hour later police arrived on the scene and started firing at them.
“This is a legal strike, but the site manager told police we have embarked on an illegal strike. When the police arrived they did not ask questions but just started firing at us and spraying teargas in our faces,” said the angry strikers. Some said they saw the police slapping strikers as they were being arrested.
East London police spokesman Mtati Tana confirmed the arrests but said police only fired stun grenades.
Aspen head office said: the company “is in ongoing discussion with the union regarding strike and picketing action.”
JSE-listed Aspen is the largest pharmaceutical manufacturer in the southern hemisphere, supplying more than 150 countries.
Department of health spokesman Siyanda Manana said the strike had not affected medical supplies. — arethal@dispatch.co.za
Aspen strikers arrested
More than 500 employees affiliated to the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers Union (Ceppwawu) and the SA Chemicals Workers’ Union (Sacwu) downed tools yesterday morning.
Sacwu negotiator Terrence Ntati said at least four employees were arrested and 10 were injured when police fired teargas and rubber bullets.
Ntati said the workers decided to strike after salary increase talks between the employer and unions deadlocked earlier this month.
“They are offering us 7% but we want nothing less than 10%.”
Yesterday, about 200 striking workers were singing outside the premises, acrid fumes rose from smoldering tyres and armed police were keeping a keen watch.
The strikers said they officially downed tools at 6am and an hour later police arrived on the scene and started firing at them.
“This is a legal strike, but the site manager told police we have embarked on an illegal strike. When the police arrived they did not ask questions but just started firing at us and spraying teargas in our faces,” said the angry strikers. Some said they saw the police slapping strikers as they were being arrested.
East London police spokesman Mtati Tana confirmed the arrests but said police only fired stun grenades.
Aspen head office said: the company “is in ongoing discussion with the union regarding strike and picketing action.”
JSE-listed Aspen is the largest pharmaceutical manufacturer in the southern hemisphere, supplying more than 150 countries.
Department of health spokesman Siyanda Manana said the strike had not affected medical supplies. — arethal@dispatch.co.za
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