Coca-Cola workers say “yes” to increase and “no” to terms
Though the workers and Coca-Cola management have reached a wage agreement, the workers still have a grievance with the terms of the agreement
MBOMBELA – Coca-Cola Fortune workers took to the streets on Friday to hand over a memorandum to the department of labour.
The workers, who have reached a wage resolution with the beverage company, are in dispute with the terms of their agreement. The workers sought a 10 per cent wage increase and settled for seven per cent. The terms of the agreement, according to Reuben Hlope, strike organiser.
According to Reuben Hlope, organiser of the strike, working six days a week and not being paid over time for working on a Saturday and only getting paid half their overtime for working on Sunday. With the new agreement, the workers might have to relocate outside of Mbombela and there is a fear that future functions might have to be outsourced
“This makes us fear for our futures in the company,” said Hlope. He goes on to say that the company wanted to introduce non-rotational shifts. The new system would mean that shifts would not rotate for a full year at a time, unlike the weekly rotations they currently enjoy.
“We were able to get them to change it to every three months because our people cannot work like this,” said Hlope.
