BUTTERWORTH, Eastern Cape — More than 90 employees at Elite Bakery remain on strike after the facility was forced to cease operations amid escalating disputes over unpaid salaries and alleged labour violations.
Striking workers, speaking as employee spokespersons, accuse the bakery’s new ownership of failing to remit wages for over three months. Several employees further allege that compensation structures fall significantly below South Africa’s national minimum wage requirements.
According to worker representatives, the disputes center on three primary grievances: outstanding salary payments dating back to February, unpaid and unrecorded overtime hours, and unilateral changes to working conditions. One spokesperson noted that shifts were extended from seven to eight hours without corresponding wage adjustments.
“We have not been paid for February, March, and April,” stated an employee spokesperson with tenure since 2014. “When we raise these concerns, we are told there are no funds available, yet the business continues operating elsewhere.”
Workers described severe financial hardship resulting from the payment delays. Several indicated receiving only partial payments of approximately R2,000—amounts they describe as insufficient to cover basic household needs, school fees, and rental obligations. Some employees reported resorting to inadequate housing arrangements due to the loss of income.
The spokespersons referenced a transition in ownership, noting that while previous management had addressed certain payment obligations, the current operators—described by workers as a multinational entity—have not honored similar commitments. Employee representatives indicated that attempts to engage management in structured negotiations have not yielded resolution.
The bakery, which previously supplied wholesale and retail outlets across the region, has halted production during the industrial action.
Striking employees have appealed to labour authorities and relevant government departments across South Africa to intervene and assist in resolving the dispute. “We are asking anyone who can help to please assist us,” said a worker spokesperson. “We want our earned wages and fair treatment under the law.”
The situation remains ongoing, with employees maintaining their strike action pending resolution of the salary disputes and working condition concerns.