Brewery gets interdict against violent strikers

In the past weeks the NEWS staff had their hands full reporting on strike actions as local workers seemed to have taken the announcement of the country’s strike season right to heart.

On Tuesday 8 October more labour unrest hit Krugersdorp when South African Breweries (SAB) employees affiliated to the Food and Allied Workers’ Union took to the streets in Chamdor demanding a 9,5 per cent wage increase.

According to most recent figures SAB upped their initial offer of a 5,5 per cent increase to seven per cent, but Krugersdorp workers violently refused.

They burned tyres and reportedly threw stones at the depot and passing cars. Rocks were used to block the road outside the depot and brewery.

SAB was granted an interdict by the Labour Court, which stated that striking workers should halt their actions and abide by national picketing rules.

SAB Human Resources Director, Yokesh Maharaj, said in a statement that ahead of the strike workers had agreed to picketing rules, which allow them to picket outside of SAB operations providing it was done in a non-disruptive manner.

“We are deeply concerned by the acts of violence and intimidation that took place at our Chamdor operations. We strongly urge FAWU officials to ensure that their members abide by our picketing rules, and also by the rule of the law,” he said.

Asked for his take on current wage discussions he stated that the current seven per cent offer would increase the average monthly pay for shift workers by R1 196 to R18 283. He stated that SAB believed that the wage increase was highly competitive as it was above inflation and came off a high base.

“SAB is one of the highest paying employers in South Africa across all sectors, and one of the highest in the brewing industry worldwide.”