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Strike cost Ceres Fruit Growers R10m, workers R7m

Cape Town - The six-week long strike over wage negotiations cost Ceres Fruit Growers (CFG) about R10m, the company said on Wednesday.

CFG and the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) on Tuesday evening agreed to a wage increase of 8.25%, a move hailed by the union as a "victory”.

Managing director Francois Malan said in a statement he was grateful and relieved that an agreement has been reached, putting an end to the “crippling” strike action. 

“We have a big challenge to get our operations back on track and to get to work. Ceres workers are more than R7m poorer [in lost wages] because of the unprotected strike and this action has also cost CFG and its growers about R10m [loss of income and damage to buildings],” he said.

“We will assess the material damage caused to our business in due course, but more importantly, we need to re-establish a good working relationship with all our staff.”

Workers are expected to return to work on Thursday, Fawu general secretary Katishi Masemola told News24 on Wednesday.

After being presented with the offer, it was “overwhelmingly accepted”, he said. Fawu demanded a 12.5% wage increase and a profit-sharing scheme for workers. 

The company was offering 7.5% and other increased benefits.

CFG had been engaging with the union in annual wage negotiations since July.

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