FAWU To March To Unilever Head Offic

 Media Statement - 14 June 2022

 

The Food & Allied Workers’ Union (FAWU) will march to Unilever’s head office in Umhlanga in the Kwa-Zulu Natal province on Wednesday 15 June 2022 to hand over a memorandum of strike demands to the company. We believe a multinational such as Unilever can accede to workers’ reasonable demands for better conditions and a decent wage increase, especially given the challenging economic environment the working class finds itself in.

 

About 600 FAWU members embarked on industrial action at the Indonsa plant in Umhlanga in the Kwa-Zulu Natal on 27 May 2022 following failed wage talks with the employer under the auspices of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.  Our members demanded a 12 percent wage increase in February this year, an increase in the staff quarterly vouchers, an increase in sick leave 15 days per annum and for the implementation date to be backdated to April 1 2022.

 

The company withdrew its wage proposal on 30 May 2022 after it was rejected by workers on the basis that it was the very same proposal the company had made when the parties reached a deadlock.  The company’s latest wage proposal offer stood at a deplorable 5,8 percent while the union demanded a 9,5 percent wage increase. FAWU believes that production is heavily affected.

 

Unilever, a global consumer goods company sells well-known goods like Hellmans, Knorr and various other food and beauty products.

 

The march departs from 77 Riverhorse Road at 11h00 on 15 June 2022 and the memorandum handover will take place around 12h00 at 15 Nollsworth Crescent, Nollsworth, Umhlanga, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Enquiries: KZN Provincial Secretary Siphiwe Dlomo (082 492 5100) or alternatively FAWU Deputy General Secretary Vuka Chonco (082 499 5854). Released by FAWU media officer Dominique Martin – 082 498 5631

Broadway Sweets Workers On Strike

 

 

FAWU members in Germiston in Johannesburg are engaged in industrial action at Broadway Sweets in demand of a providend fund, annual bonus and the implementation of job grading. In addition , our members totally reject the company’s unilateral and unauthorised deductions of a so-called COVID loan. The strike started May 24, 2022.

 

FAWU is outraged at the employer’s refusal to meet with us to discuss organisational rights at the company. We have learnt that employees who are not affiliated to the union have been threatened with disciplinary procedures if they dared to join the strike. Our members have had it with this company’s intransigence by paying members far less than they deserve. These employees are earning R10 per night shift (R50 p/week) which is outrageous in the current economic environment in the country. The employer does not provide transport and our members have to fork out R 250 per week which is simply unsustainable.

 

Management at Broadway Sweets has shown that they have zero interest in the welfare of his employees as the employer arrogantly claims that  he is
simply “recovering” wages he has paid them during the first lockdown in 2020 when they were not on duty. FAWU plans to engage the Department of Labour regarding the unauthorised deductions of our members.

Unilever's Indonsa plant Protests action

 

Media Alert: Unilever Employees Demand 12 % wage hike

 

Hundreds of Unilever employees embarked on industrial action at the Indonsa factory in Kwa-Zulu Natal towards the end of May 2022 following failed wage talks with the employer and under the auspices of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.  Our members demand a 12 percent wage increase which they have submitted in February this year, an increase in the staff quarterly vouchers, an increase in sick leave from 10 to 15 days and for the implementation date to be backdated to April 1 2022.

The company however withdrew its proposal on 30 May 2022 after workers rejected it since it was the very same proposal the company had made during a deadlock between parties.  The company’s latest wage proposal offer came at around 5,8 percent while the stance of the union mandated a 9,5 percent wage increase.

 

Viva FAWU Viva!!!