UBOMBO WORKERS WANT EXIT PACKAGES

BIG BEND – Pay us first before we leave. That is the demand put forward by some seasonal workers affected by the restructuring exercise that has resulted in massive job losses at Ubombo Sugar Limited.

The workers, mostly in the cane haulage division that has been declared redundant, are adamant that they will not vacate company houses unless they were paid exit packages.

The company has reportedly set February 28 as the deadline for all seasonal workers affected by the restructuring exercise to vacate company houses.
However, some workers are refusing to vacate the houses unless they are paid decent terminal benefits. “What has happened is unprecedented. We were told to pack our things and go yet we have worked for the company for decades. How can we leave unless we get paid what’s due to us?” wondered an ex-tractor driver.

According to union officials, the company had initially indicated that it would not pay even a cent to seasonal workers because they were not employed on a permanent basis.

However, the union official revealed that management had since had a change of heart and announced that all the seasonal workers would get a severance package. “What has caused problems is that management has said the severance package would be calculated based on their own calculations and not the ones stipulated in written agreements with the union. Hence, workers are not happy,” said the union official.

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Some weeks ago, workers under the cane haulage department held a meeting where they reportedly vowed not to vacate company houses until they were paid a severance package based on the calculations stipulated on the agreements between the union and management. However, some of the workers have since broken ranks with their colleagues and they have vacated the company houses as per the order by management.

A union official explained that workers who have vacated the company houses were enticed by a carrot which management dangled. “Management made a statement to the effect that none of the affected workers would get the severance packages unless they vacated the house,” said the official.

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