Demo Over Salaries: Workers Lock Up Management

Angry workers of Plant Pool Company Limited on Thursday embarked on a demonstration, during which they locked up the management staff and deflated the tyres of their vehicles.

The workers, numbering about 50, wore red bands and chanted war songs. They charged into the compound locking the main gate after the full compliment of the management of the company had come in. More than 500 steal benders, masons, drivers and floor men at the company have not been paid since June this year and the demonstrators said until they were paid their due they would not set the management free.

He said several meetings had been held with the board to get their salaries paid. On Wednesday, management called a meeting to tell them that even the one-month salary they had planned to pay might not be paid. Management had earlier accepted to pay only a month’s salary out of the five months arrears, according to Kazapoe. “We will not release them until we get our salaries for the past five months.” They alleged that they had parked the company’s trucks while they hired other trucks and pocket the profit at the expense of the company.

Mr. Kazapoe said they locked the management members and deflated their tyres to express their anger and frustration at both management and government for the delay.