Fawu warned to avoid violence

Johannesburg - The Labour Court in Johannesburg has ordered the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) and its members to refrain from committing any acts of violence and criminal conduct during the strike currently under way at some Amalgamated Beverage Industries (ABI) plants and depots.

This follows high levels of violence having characterised the strike after it started on 22 December 2009, including the petrol bombing of delivery vehicles, assaults on non-striking employees, anonymous intimidatory calls to employees' families and the stoning of ABI and owner- driver vehicles.

More than 100 strikers have been arrested by the SAPS during the strike. In terms of the order, Fawu and its members are interdicted and restrained from: Committing, orchestrating, promoting, encouraging, supporting, participating in or condoning acts of violence and other criminal conduct, including assaulting and intimidating ABI employees and damaging the property of ABI and its employees.

The court has also ordered Fawu and its general secretary Katshisi Masemola to call on its members to refrain from committing criminal or violent acts.

In terms of the order, Fawu must file affidavits with the Labour Court within 10 days - by 23 January 2010 - showing the steps it has taken to avoid the recurrence of further criminal conduct.

ABI MD John Ustas said: The court order was granted due to the high levels of violence and intimidation that have characterised the strike. This order will be a major step in not only securing the safety of the many employees who have continued to work throughout the strike, but also of those striking employees who wish to return to work but have not done so for fear of intimidation."

- I-Net Bridge