ABI hopes end of strike is near

Johannesburg - Amalgamated Beverage Industries hopes to resolve the month-long strike by its workers by Monday.

"ABI held high level wage discussions yesterday [Wednesday] with the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) and has undertaken to seek further feedback from its members and ABI is hopeful of a resolution to the strike by Monday," ABI spokesperson Emma King said in a statement on Thursday.

Hundreds of its workers have been taking to the streets in pursuit of a 9.5% wage increase. King would not elaborate reasons for the optimism as the company had not budged on its 8.3 percent offer to workers.

"ABI went in with the same offer... we agreed [with Fawu] not to give further information until Monday because Fawu still has to go back to its members."

Fawu general secretary Katishi Masemola could not immediately be reached for comment.

Over 1 000 workers went on strike on December 22 2009 and ABI, the soft drinks division of SA Breweries, has consistently maintained its 8.3% offer was "fair and reasonable".

The company's offer included an across-the-board wage offer of 7.8%, bringing the minimum wage to R7 235.

The package would also include an increase of the education grant from R275 to R350, and a Christmas voucher doubled to R400. The cellphone allowance would be increased, the work week would be 45-hours long, with Saturday work considered overtime.

Fawu wanted all agreements with labour brokers to be nullified and a moratorium to be placed on the appointment of owner-drivers. An owner-driver was a person who undertook road transport work using their own vehicle.

The company maintained the use of labour brokers was legal.

- Sapa