On Tuesday (25/11), workers entered the second day of protest action outside the authority’s Bloemfontein offices. They say the entity has failed to honour agreed salary increments of 5% and 2.5% for the 2024/2025 financial year.

They also claim they are still owed increases for 2025/2026 and accuse management of stalling negotiations and refusing to engage meaningfully. 

“We have been negotiating for two years, and our salary increments have still not been paid,” said Nehawu FSGLTA Bloemfontein branch deputy secretary Kefiloe Masolane. “At first, the board’s management was not willing to meet or negotiate with us.

“We eventually went to the CCMA, and the CCMA compelled them to negotiate. But to this day, the employer has still given workers 0%.”

Workers also raised complaints about alleged favouritism, irregular acting appointments, and what they describe as the board’s unprofessional running of the entity “like a spaza shop”, where workers are allegedly dismissed at will despite being permanently employed.Employees picketing outside the FSGLTA offices in Bloemfontein. Photo: Kekeletso Mosebetsi

Masolane added that the entity is being mismanaged to the detriment of staff. It is understood that since the strike began on Monday, management has not sent anyone to address the protesting employees.

Workers further claim that the appointment of friends as external consultants has inflated the authority’s budget, while board members continue to enjoy “unnecessary travel for board meetings”, all while employees struggle financially.

The workers have called on the Free State MEC for economic, small business development, tourism and environmental affairs to intervene.

Calls for intervention

“We urgently need intervention, and we will not stop striking until our challenges are heard and our demands are attended to by the MEC,” said Masolane. “We want our 2.5% for 2024/25, and after that, we will renegotiate for 2025/26. We want job evaluation and job restructuring to be done within this entity.

“We also need the MEC to assist with a programme that addresses the fraudulent issuing of liquor licences.” Workers vowed to continue their picket until their demands are addressed, insisting the authority can no longer operate without accountability and transparency.

OFM has sent an inquiry to the FSGLTA.

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OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi mvh