SKUKUZA – Employees of Wimpy restaurant in the Kruger National Park (KNP), Pretoriuskop Camp are as from today (Thursday, 9 February 2017) embarking on an industrial action due to unresolved dispute between them and their employer.

Ms Molla Bonnet, managing executive for Wimpy, said to Lowvelder that management was advised about the pending strike two days ago by the 18 members of the Food and Allied Workers’ Union (FAWU). It is a relationship dispute between FAWU and the franchisee and is renumeration related.

“They are bargaining and negotiating salaries at present,” said Bonnet.

Senior management members of Famous Brands are in the area at present to try and resolve the conflict.

The group’s restaurants in the KNP were seriously disrupted with strikes during last year when staff of the Mugg and Bean franchises in the KNP, Letaba and Skukuza,  downed their tools.

The restaurant will still be open for normal trading hours but will be operating with reduced staff and a smaller menu.

“We apologise for any inconvenience,” said Bonnet. She made a commitment that Wimpy will do their best to resolve the problems.

According to the KNP Managing Executive, Mr Glenn Phillips, services might be affected at the Pretoriuskop Wimpy outlet.

“As KNP management we have been in discussion with Wimpy management and have been assured that contingency plans are in place to adequately deal with the situation. However we can note that there have been disruptions at the restaurant earlier this morning.”

Phillips also apologized to guests who might have already been affected by this strike at Pretoriuskop’s Wimpy this morning due to the earlier demonstrations.

“As a precautionary measure, the SAPS together with our own traffic and security personnel have been deployed to ensure there is order at all times.”