Management confirmed security strike conclusion
The company’s managing director Dave Casey, in a statement during the weekend, delivered the good news of reaching an agreement to call off the strike and thanked the loyal workers who reported for duty despite numerous threats and acts of intimidation.
Striking Beagle Watch Armed Response security officers have called off the strike after promises from management to look into their grievances.
The workers downed tools on Friday, 22 June, halting operations and demonstrated outside the company’s headquarters in Fairland.
The company’s managing director Dave Casey, in a statement during the weekend, delivered the good news of reaching an agreement to call off the strike and thanked the loyal workers who reported for duty despite numerous threats and acts of intimidation.
Read initial article here: WATCH: BREAKING NEWS: Striking security workers halt operations
A memorandum handed over to the employer, listed the demands of about 700 striking employees, who were dissatisfied not just with salaries but pleaded for better working conditions.
Some of the crucial points on the memorandum were; basic salary for all employees of R12500.00, performance bonuses of R2000, Sundays and public holidays to be paid double, proper disciplinary action procedure, paying for uniform continuously to come to an end, repairing of vehicles by two parties (employee and insurance) must be discussed and medical aid should be optional.
William Mbayisa, a tactical force employee, elaborated on the memorandum and what led to the strike. “We are striking because of our salaries. The company charges the clients a lot of money but as workers on the ground we are paid very little although we work full-time and we are always on duty,” he said.
For the risky job they have to do week in week out, William said a living wage of R10 000 to R12000 is what they want in order support their families. “We can’t afford to support our families with our current wage – it’s too little,” lamented. The current wage according to William is roughly R4000 to R6000.
When asked if they don’t fear to lose their jobs, William said it was their right as employees to fight for a better living wage based on the dangerous job they do.
Based on the tabled issues, Casey, responded by saying, “Beagle Watch has always believed in fair remuneration and pays its officers well above the guidelines laid out in the Wage Determination Act. The company also offers excellent incentives schemes and has given away more than 20 cars as part of such incentives. Medical benefits, such as membership to the Discovery Primary Care Health Plan, which is over and above the legal requirement for the Industry, are also included. In keeping with Industry standards, our Reaction Officers also undergo training sessions on Saturdays, for which they are compensated.”
As the strike could have led clients terminating their contracts with the company, Casey thanked the loyal customers for their continued support, the police and other security companies in the area for assistance.
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