ABI shows proof of violence

Johannesburg - Soft drink manufacturer ABI on Tuesday showed images of violence and intimidation, allegedly by striking workers.

"Violence has now gone to people's houses," Amalgamated Beverage Industries MD John Ustas said while showing videos and photos at a media briefing in Midrand.

One photograph showed an employee's petrol-bombed house.

"It will be a tragedy if these demonstrations have to occur during the 2010 World Cup."

A video of an ABI manager being hit with sticks was also shown.

"You see, those sticks are not allowed," Ustas said.

Images of wounds on the bodies of non-striking ABI employees and damage to vehicles and properties were also displayed.

Damage to property and vehicles during the one-month strike was estimated to run into hundreds of thousands of rands.

More than 70 reports of intimidation of employees were also recorded.

Formal charges with the police, including attempted murder and assault, were laid.

Ustas said ABI delivery trucks were fire-bombed and stoned and more than 100 strikers were arrested after clashing with police.

"We have supplied Fawu [the Food and Allied Workers Union], police, the CCMA [Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration] and the Labour Court with written, photographic and video evidence of the violence and intimidation."

In a statement on Sunday, the company said it had invited Fawu and its lawyers to view the evidence, but it declined. Fawu denied this.

"We have, if anything, been calling ABI to present us with this evidence of violence," Fawu general secretary Katishi Masemola said on Sunday.

ABI is offering an across-the-board wage increase of 7.8%, and a wage and benefits increase of 8.3%. Fawu wants a 9.5% wage increase.

During the latest round of talks at the CCMA, the union said it was willing to drop its demand to 8.5%, which the company would not agree to.

ABI is the soft drinks division of SABMiller .

The strike began on December 22 2009.

- Sapa