Cold drink strike turns nastier

Johannesburg - Cooldrinks manufacturer ABI said on Sunday that the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) has refused to view evidence of violence and intimidation during a month-long strike at the company.

"ABI invited Fawu and its lawyers to meet this week to share the company's evidence of the violence and intimidation, but Fawu declined.

"This comes as Fawu continues to deny escalating violence," ABI's managing director John Ustas said.

He said the levels of violence and intimidation escalated dramatically this week, with more than 30 incidents having been reported including the stoning and petrol bombing of delivery trucks, arson, death threats, bomb threats, threats to burn down property and physical assault.

Fawu denied these allegations, calling it "utter nonsense".

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

"If we received a call from ABI, we would respond. They have not communicated with us on this regard, what you are telling me now is news to me."

On Thursday ABI reiterated its "commitment to engaging with Fawu to find a way forward".

ABI is offering an across the board wage increase of 7.8 percent, and a wage and benefits increase of 8.3 percent. Fawu is asking for a 9.5 percent wage increase.

During the latest round of talks under the auspices of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, the union said it was willing to drop its demand to 8.5 percent but the company would not agree to this.

ABI is the soft drinks division of SAB Miller [JSE:SAB].

The strike began on December 22 last year.

- Sapa