A protected strike by industry watchdogs of the more than 8300 licensed liquor outlets across the province could open the taps on illegal after-hours alcohol sales, according to the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu).
Inspectors, who police trading hours of on- and off-sales liquor establishments are among the 61 employees of the Eastern Cape Liquor Board represented by Nehawu who have been on strike since Monday this week in East London, Port Elizabeth, Queenstown, Cradock and Aliwal North.
They have been in dispute with the board since March last year.
The union has also expressed outrage at executive salaries at the board – R1.9-million for the chief executive and up to R1.35-million for other top managers – while most of its members earn only up to R250000 a year.
Union officials said board members adopted an “I don’t care” attitude over the labour dispute, enjoying a lunchtime braaivleis at the ECLB offices in Vincent, East London, on Monday, while workers picketed outside.
Nehawu’s branch deputy secretary at the ECLB, Siyabonga Singani, said yesterday the withdrawal of inspectors who monitor the local liquor industry could result in a free-for-all, with traders not sticking to their licence conditions.
“It is possible that because are not being monitored, they can operate 24 hours a day. That creates a danger to the public.”
The ECLB oversees the industry in the province, dispensing licences and enforcing compliance.
Nehawu officials said yesterday’s Dispatch report of average salaries at the board being R460000 a year did not reflect the skewed distribution of income between highly paid managers and lower level officials.
The union said its members had been in dispute with the board bosses since March last year over their annual increases, which should have been implemented in April 2015.
They are due for another cost-of-living increase at the beginning of next month and undertook industrial action to press their demand for 12% increases against the 5.6% offered by the ECLB.
ECLB spokesman Mgwebi Msiya did not return Dispatch calls yesterday.
Liquor danger warning as inspectors down tools
Inspectors, who police trading hours of on- and off-sales liquor establishments are among the 61 employees of the Eastern Cape Liquor Board represented by Nehawu who have been on strike since Monday this week in East London, Port Elizabeth, Queenstown, Cradock and Aliwal North.
They have been in dispute with the board since March last year.
The union has also expressed outrage at executive salaries at the board – R1.9-million for the chief executive and up to R1.35-million for other top managers – while most of its members earn only up to R250000 a year.
Union officials said board members adopted an “I don’t care” attitude over the labour dispute, enjoying a lunchtime braaivleis at the ECLB offices in Vincent, East London, on Monday, while workers picketed outside.
Nehawu’s branch deputy secretary at the ECLB, Siyabonga Singani, said yesterday the withdrawal of inspectors who monitor the local liquor industry could result in a free-for-all, with traders not sticking to their licence conditions.
“It is possible that because are not being monitored, they can operate 24 hours a day. That creates a danger to the public.”
The ECLB oversees the industry in the province, dispensing licences and enforcing compliance.
Nehawu officials said yesterday’s Dispatch report of average salaries at the board being R460000 a year did not reflect the skewed distribution of income between highly paid managers and lower level officials.
The union said its members had been in dispute with the board bosses since March last year over their annual increases, which should have been implemented in April 2015.
They are due for another cost-of-living increase at the beginning of next month and undertook industrial action to press their demand for 12% increases against the 5.6% offered by the ECLB.
ECLB spokesman Mgwebi Msiya did not return Dispatch calls yesterday.
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