25/09/2025
Publication: SWF
Author: Press Writer
Community protesting in support of striking workers at Chep pallet makers - Chep withdraws interdict again
CONTACT FOR INTERVIEWS: Siza on 076 156 3595 and Siphokazi on 078 295 9547
Community members and Simunye Workers' Forum members are protesting today from 11am against the global pallet making giant Chep. The protest is outside Chep's Alrode plant, in solidarity with striking Chep workers.
The address for the protest is: No 6 Botha Street, Alrode, Alberton,1451.
The Chep workers at the Jet Park warehouse have been on strike since 21 August 2025 against forced casualisation. Some have been working as casuals for Chep for 18 years. The labour law clearly says that any worker who works for more than 3 months for one employer and earns under a particular threshold is deemed permanent and must be made permanent by the company. Chep has refused and has also refused to pay the Jet Park workers a living wage. Workers are demanding a R2500 per month across the board pay increase.
Last week, Chep tried to interdict the strike. They hired Joburg lawyers Fasken Bell Dewar to file spurious legal papers, randomly claiming that 87 strikers had paid people R200 each to assault scab labourers brought in by Chep. After they were informed that SWF had video footage of the 87 strikers showing no such incident, Chep then formally withdrew the interdict, apologised and offered to pay the Simunye Workers' Forum's legal costs. (Please see the attached letter).
CONTACT PEOPLE FOR INTERVIEWS:
Siza on 076 156 3595
Siphokazi on 078 295 9547