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Johannesburg -
Labour representatives say that the strike at the cold drink division of SA Breweries (SAB) will spread to its beer production next week.
"Contrary to claims made by SAB management, Fawu expects SAB
beer plants in Gauteng to shut down on Monday," Fawu general secretary Katishi Masemola said in a
statement.
Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi is expected to lead a march to
the SAB head office in Sandton on Saturday,
according to the Food and Allied Wokers Union (Fawu).
Masemola on Friday said Vavi
would lead about 3 000 workers as part of intensifying their
three-week strike at SAB's soft drinks division.
This follows the collapse of talks between their representatives
and their employer, Amalgamated Beverage Industries.
Union members are demanding a 9.5 percent wage increase, against
the employer's offer of 8.3 percent, and better employment
conditions.
Meanwhile, workers at the Witbank Coca Cola Shanduka plant have
embarked on a full-blown strike and other ABI workers from Coca
Cola Fortune and Coca Cola Canners were also picketing on Friday.
The rally was expected to start at the Sandton park at 11:00 and a
memorandum would be handed over at the SAB head office at 12:30.
The union has called on Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa to
release the 79 workers arrested during a violent incident on
Wednesday.
"We call on Johannesburg metro police not to heed blackmail
tactics that were used to get SA Police Service to make reckless,
deliberate shootings and random arrests," said Masemola.
ABI managing director John Ustas issued a statement downplaying
the impact of the strike on the company's production.
"The strike action currently underway at some ABI depots is
being supported by only 45 percent of Fawu members, and less than
65 percent of ABI's total work force," Ustas said.
The fact that the majority of workers had remained at work had
ensured that the strike had limited impact on the operations of
ABI.
"We are concerned that Fawu has failed to move at all during our
recent negotiations, despite ABI having brought additional items to
the table."
Negotiations between the two parties resume at the Commission
for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration on Wednesday.
- Sapa