"We have suspended the action," said Karel Swart of the Commercial, Stevedoring, Agricultural and Allied Workers Union .
More than 60 farmworkers from Oak Valley Estate in Grabouw have been protesting since May 6 for their wages to be increased to R250 per day, an end to labour brokering and the removal of single sex hostels. The farmworkers are being supported by the union and some community members. Swart said the protest action had been suspended because Oak Valley Estate had agreed"to come to the table". Those involved in the meeting include union representatives, leaders of the protesting farmworkers, Oak Valley Estate management and a Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration commissioner.
Christopher Rawbone-Viljoen, managing director of Oak Valley Estate, said in previous meetings the farm representatives suggested reviewing seasonal contracts and investigating whether workers were"eligible for permanency on the basis of rolling contracts". He said they were waiting for more information from the labour brokers.
Swart was one of those arrested but he was later released. He said if those arrested remained locked up, the protest might resume.Read more on:
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