Tiger Brands has imposed a lockout at its factory in Ashton after workers went on a strike last week demanding better wages.
Today the Bawsi Agricultural Workers Union of SA (Bawusa) meets Langeberg and Ashton Foods management to negotiate a settlement.
Workers are demanding a 15 percent increase and permanent seasonal status, which would guarantee them jobs for the season.
A fruit canning factory, Langeberg and Ashton Foods is owned by Tiger Brands, whose corporate affairs executive, Alex Mathole, said: “Tiger Brands can confirm that a lockout notice was issued against Bawusa. We are meeting the union representatives first thing in the morning (today) to discuss the matter further.”
Bawusa general secretary Nosey Pieterse said the union had issued a notice for a strike last Wednesday and two and half hours later the company issued a notice for a lockout.
“The company instituted the lockout on Friday, 45 hours and 32 minutes after their notice, and not the 48 hours required by law.
“We have interdicted the company because it did not comply with the Labour Act. There has been no work at the factory since Friday. We had a sleep-in (outside the factory) on Friday and Saturday night.”
Pieterse said the company had given notice for workers to report for work today, but this would be unlikely.
There are about 6 000 seasonal and 700 permanent workers at the plant, most of them members of Bawusa and the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu).
Fawu provincial organiser Sandile Keni said the union’s members were not on strike. He was concerned they would be intimidated. He said although they respected Bawusa’s right to strike, “we know we are dealing with a bunch of hooligans in Bawusa”.
“We are requesting that the police keep an eye on this matter. The company must make sure our people are not intimidated and victimised.”
Keni said if the company failed to protect non-striking workers, the union would call on workers to go home.
They were negotiating with the company and their dispute had been referred to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). The union did not have a problem with the company’s offer, but wanted the same benefits for seasonal workers. A hearing has been set down for December 10 in Robertson.
“We will see from there whether there will be a strike, based on the company’s response,” Keni said. - Cape Times