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Mail & Guardian reports that workers at Luxor Paints in Jet Park, Boksburg say they will not back down, despite the alleged violent attacks on them during protracted strike action at the plant.
In a statement released on Monday, worker representatives claimed one worker lost an eye and 19 others were hospitalised after being shot with rubber bullets by private security while on a peaceful protected strike. The strike, which began on 26 February, was called by the General Industrial Workers Union of SA (Giwusa) and supported by the Simunye Workers Forum. It concerns longstanding demands for medical aid, long service allowance and housing allowance and involves about 200 workers. Despite the strike being peaceful, Luxor Paints allegedly called in a private security company named the National Strike Intervention Union. On two occasions the guards allegedly opened fire on groups of striking workers, resulting in one worker losing an eye. “After seeing one of our comrades lost his eye, we cried like babies while the company was just looking at us,” said Giwusa member Ndimphiwe Nozibele. A company spokesperson said strike had not been peaceful by their estimation.
- Read this report by Sarah Smit in full at M&G
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