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Johannesburg - The Food and Allied Workers' Union (Fawu) is planning a 2010 Fifa World Cup linked campaign against Coca-Cola products after unsuccessful wage talks with Amalgamated Beverages Industries (ABI), a spokesperson said on Tuesday.
"Unions can use a coming World Cup to twist the arm of the employers to certain concessions," Fawu general secretary Katishi Masemola told media in Johannesburg.
Some 2 500 workers remained on strike after wage talks between the union and Fawu failed to yield an agreement.
Masemola said that the company remained adamant on a 7.8% pay rise offer while the union was demanding 9.5%.
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% but the company would not budge.
The union wanted Coca-Cola advertising isolated from World Cup activities. Coca-Cola is an official Fifa World Cup partner.
"The union will be presenting an input paper on the Fifa Soccer World Cup link campaign against Coca-Cola products and sponsorship," Masemola said.
This would be presented at a meeting of the Coca-Cola workers alliance steering committee in Switzerland in February.
ABI is the soft drinks division of SAB Miller and beer workers are set to join the strike action on January 27 to participate "in sympathy" with their soft drinks co-workers.
Masemola again condemned violence and intimidation during the strike. However he continued to distance the union from the alleged acts.
He said no incidents of violence or intimidation had taken place on the picket line outside ABI plants nor had any incidents been reported during a march to hand over a memorandum.
Masemola said the union would wait for evidence that burned ABI trucks and petrol-bombed homes were related to the strike.
The Congress of SA Trade Unions, to which Fawu is affiliated, on Monday called on consumers to boycott Coca-Cola products.
ABI said the month-long strike action has had no effect on its business.
Masemola disputed this, saying Fawu members had resolved to remain on strike because they were aware the company was suffering.
- Sapa
