FAWU ELECTED NATIONAL OFFICE BEARERS - Elected November 2024

 

FAWU DEMANDS GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN TONGAAT- HULETT DEBACLE

 

The Food and Allied Workers’ Union completely rejects the way the recent announcement of Tongaat-Hulett regarding their intention to file for business rescue was done. This unexpected move has created huge uncertainty among employees and suppliers and could have serious consequences for the industry and the South African economy as a whole.  It is disturbing that the company has filed for business rescue without even a notice to the relevant unions who represents thousands of members at the Amatikulu, Felixton, Voermoon, Maidstone and Refinery plants.

 

This shocking move by the company shows utter disregard towards employees and affected businesses. With Tongaat-Hulett being such a major supplier of sugar, it also has far-reaching consequences for the whole sugar value-chain and the economy of the country with many fearing it could lead to the market being flooded with cheap imports.  Furthermore , it flies flat in the face of the ideals of the Sugar Master plan which included addressing job retention  and sugar value chain diversification, amongst other things.

 

Whilst we acknowledge that a business rescue task team has been established to brief stakeholders about the progress, we still require answers on certain issues from the company management themselves. For this reason, FAWU seeks the urgent intervention of the Department of Trade and Industry to try and avert a full-blown economic disaster in the sugar sector and the decimation of jobs.

 

For more information please call the FAWU General Secretary Mayoyo Mngomezulu on 082 440 4039 or the Deputy General Secretary Vuka Chonco on 082 499 5854. Released by FAWU media liaison officer Dominique Martin on 082 4985631

 

MEDIA STATEMENT

             FAWU OPPOSES SA BREWERIES OUTSOURCING PROPOSAL

 

The Food and Allied Workers’ Union (FAWU) vehemently rejects the latest restructuring proposal by the South African Breweries (SAB) that will affect its transport division and about twenty-seven employees displaced from being SAB employees. The proposal amounts to nothing but a system of reducing the salaries and benefits of workers selectively without a similar treatment for managers. We believe that this move could set a dangerous precedent in that it can advance to other departments and threatens the job security of all our members within South African Breweries.

 

We believe the company has misled the Union in terms of the Section 197 by not being completely transparent about the process as declared in the Labour Relations Act. The expectation of the business was supposed to among others detail its intention while according a platform for the Union to engage with the business meaningfully to also find alternatives of saving jobs and not to reinforce its intention to outsource. FAWU is appalled that the company is seeking to outsource to a third-party logistics service provider FADEL of which its head office is located in Paraguay. This does not make business sense at all or even economic rational as it undermine the protection of South African economy where opportunities of reinvestment are not for the local economy but ownership enjoyed outside the country. It is an initiative increase wealth for shareholders by outsourcing workers and as a result, creating cheap labour which seems to be a global venture for ABInbev.

 

This type of restructuring is an outright attack on organised labour and does nothing to advance the interests of workers in general and even the South African economy. It targets employees in the bargaining unit who is not even involved with the logistical management of trucks which is indicated as the rationale for the company’s proposed changes. 

We also condemn the company for its unrealistic timelines which projected implementation of proposed changes in October 2022 as this displace exchange of minds at any given bilateral engagement processes.

 

FAWU demands that SAB to indefinitely suspend the process of outsourcing and meaningfully consult with the Union with a sole purpose of ensuring job security for our members.

 

 For more information, please contact the General Secretary, Mayoyo Mngomezulu on 082 440 4039 or at mngomezulu.mayoyo@fawu.org.za or the Deputy General Secretary, Vuka Chonco on 082 499 5854 or vuka.chonco@fawu.org.za

 

Released by FAWU media officer, Dominique Martin on 082 498 5631

FAWU Rejects Decision To Suspend Poultry Anti- Dumping Duties

               FAWU Rejects Suspension 

                of Poultry Anti-Dumping Duties

Media Statement

 

FAWU has learnt that the DTIC Minister, Mr Ebrahim Patel, has decided to suspend the imposition of the anti-dumping duties for the period of 12 months. This is said to be a contribution by the department to deal with the current rapid rise of food prices in the SACU market and globally including the impact it has towards the poor.

FAWU is against this decision because in the long run, this will collapse the entire poultry industry.

 

The ITAC (International Trade Administration Commission) initiated an investigation to ascertain if indeed there is an unfair trade in the sector. The conclusion of the investigation necessitated the ITAC to recommend that the Minister in the Department of Trade, Industry and Commission should impose a definitive anti-dumping duties. This means that there would be an existing protection of the local supply of chickens in the country.

FAWU welcomes the outcome from the ITAC (International Trade and Administration Commission) that anti-dumping duties be imposed against imports from Brazil, Denmark, Ireland, Poland and Spain.

 

Instead of the DTIC Minister following this recommendation, the Minister decided to suspend the imposition of the anti-dumping duties for the period of 12 months. This therefore gives an open space for other countries to take over South African market of which will lead to the collapse of the poultry sector.

We therefore dispute the actions of the Minister as it ultimately destroys jobs in the poultry sector which is practically the opposite of this recommendation by ITAC.

 

We initially in our marches argued against a 30% to 35% share of foreign chickens as a result of chicken dumping as far back in 2016.

Chicken dumping leads to imported chicken potions taking the large percentage in the South African market at a way cheaper price than the local chickens. Consumers will obviously buy cheaper chicken potions because local consumers are price sensitive and it is not the fault of consumers to be price sensitive, more so that the salary scale of workers in South Africa is low, but it is the fault of practices of unfair trade where chickens are dumped in the country.

It goes further that there will then be less chicken sold from local supply since competition favours the imported chicken. This result to workers being retrenched, as we already lost over 2 000 jobs from the previous chicken dumping. There will then be closure of small-scale farms and small business that supply farms as they cannot continue participating in the value chain. It is even worse for the informal economy as most poor communities survive through selling chickens on the streets

The unemployment being at a record high of over 40%, we cannot allow this unfair trade as it puts the jobs of more workers in South Africa at risk, threatening their livelihoods, their families and even their communities.

 

The result of our mandate must conform to job security, food security and sovereignty of our economy.

The DTIC Minister is well aware that the absence of anti-dumping duties leads to the opposite of this mandate as it leads to job losses through imports taking advantage with influx of chicken potions that increase more than the locally supplied chicken in the market.

The same department initiated a Poultry Master Plan of which its design was to protect the sector following the very same unfair trade which contributed to loss of jobs among others. There was a decision by the labour, Department of Trade Industry and Commission together with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, employer representatives and other stakeholders that there should be a growing number of small-scale poultry farming and local production networks, increasing the scale of contract farming supply, large integrated producers, growth in industrial scale food processing, growth in employment (at the time agreed to be 3 900 by 2020), more black farmers participating in the value chain through the application of transformation, growth of exports by opening other markets in the European countries including in the Africa region, etc.

The current jobs created through Master Plan is 1 640. The current foreign chicken in the market is now less by 5% which goes to indicate a positive direction in terms of the international balance of trade. Now this decision is a give-away to chicken dumping and shall lead to the opposite of this Master Plan. This shall mean that grain and generally the agricultural sector, is at risk of even contributing less to the GDP.

 

The DTIC, cannot reverse all the revolutionary strides against the European Union countries to make sure that the poultry industry is protected, jobs are secured including our economy. Meanwhile FAWU leadership shall be inviting the Minister for an urgent meeting, we therefore demand that the Minister must follow the recommendations of International Trade Administration Commission and impose definitive unti-dumping duties.

For more information, please contact the General Secretary, Mayoyo Mngomezulu on 082 440 4039 or at mngomezulu.mayoyo@fawu.org.za or the Deputy General Secretary, Vuka Chonco on 082 499 5854 or vuka.chonco@fawu.org.za

#CapeCookies Employees Demand A Living Wage

 

News Release- 7 July 2022

Cape Town-

About a hundred members of the Food and Allied Workers’ Union (FAWU) who are employed by Cape Cookies at 85 Voortrekker Road in Maitland have embarked on a protected strike action on Monday, 4 July 2022.

 

The employees, most of whom are women with young children, are out in full force bringing operations to a halt with the exception of a few non –union members who are still working inside. 

Employees say they have not had an increase for the last two years and are demanding R 10 per hour or a R 500 wage increase as an alternative. FAWU members also demand an annual bonus equal to four weeks’ wages and for increases to be backdated to May 1, 2022.

The union rejects the company's refusal to award these workers a decent wage!

Released by  FAWU Media  & Communications Dept - Dominique Martin- 082 4985631

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!!!

Zebediela Citrus Farm Strike Temporarily Suspended.

 

 

FAWU and the employer at Zebediela Citrus Farm resumed wage negotiations facilitated by the CCMA on Thursday 19 May 2022. Our members decided that they will suspend the protected strike at the Zebediela citrus farm in Limpopo as from Monday 23 May 2022. Employees believe the chances of reaching an amicable wage settlement are high despite the fact that not all issues were addressed during these wage talks.

 

FAWU members embarked on industrial action a week ago in demand of better working conditions and higher wages. Our union members demand a 15% wage increase across the board and that management rectify arrears in providend funds. Thus far the employer agreed to pay R5.8 million in arrears while the issue of a further R1.8 million will be deliberated on during the next round of talks.

Furthermore, our members demanded that the employer do away with fixed terms contracts in favour of permanent employment . The parties made progress this week in that they have reached consensus that contractors will be phased out and that workers will be employed either permanently or on a fixed- term basis.

 

The union has also laid criminal charges against the private security guards hired by the employer who started shooting at workers with a worker ending up being seriously injured during their picketing last week. FAWU strongly condemns the unprovoked violence against our members whilst exercising their legal right to protest and will seek justice for those employees injured.

 

Wage talks resumed on 2 June 2022.

 

Statement: SAFTU Affiliated Unions In Defense of the SAFTU Constitution and the Unconstitutional Suspension of SAFTU GS

 

We, the leaders of the unions affiliated to the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) and members of the National Executive Committee representing the following SAFTU affiliated Trade Unions,

 

·       FAWU

·       DETAWU

·       NUPSAW

·       SALIPSWU

·       THORN

·       ICTU

·       CSAAWU

·       DEMAWUSA

·       APSA

·       DEPACU

·       CWAWU

·       TASWU

·       VIWU

 

We are inspired to learn that another Saftu affiliated Union SACOSWU, has joined us and petitioned the leadership in calling for the retraction of Mac’s letter and hands off our General Secretary and we know that most affiliates will still join us.

 

We felt it necessary to take this unprecedented step to address our members through this media briefing in order to address a matter that has gained prominence in the public discourse.

 

A group of factionalists inside our beloved federation decided to leak to the media a misguided and ill-advised letter with the intent to suspend the General Secretary, cde Zwelinzima Vavi. Most of our members have seen this letter penned by the SAFTU President, Mac Chavalala.

 

The letter mischievously and maliciously sought to portray and smear the SAFTU General Secretary as possibly corrupt and to face a possible suspension to answer to a series of so-called misdemeanours including trampling on the SAFTU Constitution, undermining the decisions of the constitutional structures, assuming the National Congress, Central Committee and the National Executive Committee.

 

SAFTU is made up of the unions that have come together by nine principles. Amongst these is that the federation will be workers controlled. Worker control amongst others means internal democracy as prescribed by the SAFTU constitution. Each structure is given prescribed responsibilities in what we fondly call the red book of the workers.

 

In terms of this constitution, the power to suspend the National Office Bearers exclusively resides in the National Executive Committee.   

 

Clause 3.3.5 of the SAFTU constitution is explicit in dealing with the suspension of an office bearer and it states the following under the power and duties of the National Executive Committee that the NEC may:

 

“suspend any office-bearer or official of the Federation for sufficient cause until the matter is decided at the next meeting of the Central Committee.”

 

Furthermore, chapter 9 of the SAFTU constitution under clause 1.2.1 states that the NEC may:

 

Demand the recall of any National, Provincial, local office bearers or who serve on any outside body if such is demanded by two-thirds of the affiliates, if

 

1.2.1.1. The member violates the constitution of the Federation or in any way brings it into disrepute;

 

1.2.1.2. If the Federation consider that the person is working against the best interest of the working class.

 

Having taken the mentioned constitutional clauses into serious consideration we could only arrive at one conclusion,

 

We reject with the contempt it deserves the attempt of some National Office Bearers to usurp this power of the National Executive Committee. The SAFTU General Secretary cannot be suspended by his own colleagues. That power to take disciplinary action is a preserve and a sole prerogative of the National Executive Committee.

 

We place it on record that as affiliates we have directed the General Secretary to disregard the unconstitutional and unmandated letter of intent to place him on a precautionary suspension and continue with his duties as if nothing has happened.  

 

Our memories are still fresh in remembering that some SAFTU unions were victims of similar practises in COSATU where the constitutions of their unions were simply ignored when factions pursued their reactionary agenda.

 

The launch of SAFTU was a rejection of these practises that have led to fragmentation of trade unions and the formation of splinter groups that weaken the voice of workers.

 

We reject bureaucratism even when comoflouged as democratic centralism.

 

We are opposed to corruption as a matter of principle but we are also opposed to using that principle to advance factional agendas that are designed to collapse the unity of the workers in general and SAFTU in particular. 

 

As disciplined affiliates of SAFTU, we shall decisively deal with the unprecedented unlawful and unconstitutional conduct of the SAFTU President and his team in the normal SAFTU National Executive Committee scheduled for 24-25 March 2022.

 

We want to assure our members that SAFTU is here to stay despite the efforts of rogue elements to derail our efforts to build an independent, strong, militant, radical, socialist-oriented and worker-controlled SAFTU.

 

Our message is very clear, those who are behind the reactionary attempts to collapse SAFTU in the interest of Capital, the State or any other interest must stop now or else they will find us ready and they shall be exposed and defeated.

 

If they work for someone, we will hit the dog so hard that the owner will have no choice but to come out and as he comes out he/she shall be subjected to the same biting.

 

Hands off SAFTU hands-off. Hands off Zwelinzima Vavi hands off

 

End.

 

FAWU Statement On Unlawful and Unconstitutional Suspension Of  SAFTU General Secretary, Cde Zwelinzima Vavi

 

As the national leadership of FAWU, we have learnt with shock and dismay that a leaked letter to the media from the SAFTU President, Mr. Mac Chavalala, purported to suspend the SAFTU General Secretary on behalf of the SAFTU National Office Bearers.

This unprecedented action on the part of the SAFTU President is tantamount to bring SAFTU into disrepute.

Moreover, this so-called suspension is contrary to the Constitution of SAFTU. The SAFTU Constitution places the responsibility and onus of the suspension of National Office Bearers on the SAFTU National Executive Committee. The specific SAFTU Constitutional provision dictates as follows;

“The National Executive Committee may suspend any office bearer or official of the Federation for sufficient cause until the matter is decided at the next meeting of the Central Committee.”

We call on the SAFTU President to retract his unconstitutional suspension letter with immediate effect and to allow the scheduled SAFTU NEC on 24-25 March 2022 to deal with the unconstitutional conduct of the SAFTU National Office Bearers.

 

Issued by FAWU General Secretary Mayoyo Mngomezulu - 082 440 4039

 

Disconnect Between Government & Alcohol Industry

 FAWU notes the coming pronouncement by the State President on decisions advanced to cap the spread of corona virus of which some of these decisions relate to the alcohol ban. It is already a fourth time without any intervention by the government to address the devastating effect in the industry. The government appears only when banning and  opening alcohol as if it is tap water. 

The government falsely claim to be in consultation with all stakeholders while the industry has been adversely affected and suffering. Our government has been silent and afraid to approach big players in the industry to support the lowest paid workers and the informal economy, including the government being involved in the funding as well. It is reported that over more than 1 900 formal jobs were lost between December 2020 and March 2021 adding to over 11 million of the unemployed. This number is expected to grow across all sectors of our economy because of the government who only impose decisions without engaging the very same people it claims to represent.

All the above happens while over 20 % market share is enjoyed by  illicit traders particularly in the alcohol industry, which leads to the country losing billions per annum again without any government  being directly involved to meet with the participants in the industry and conclude on clamping down illicit traders. 

FAWU has further noted that some participants in the industry have decided to approach the courts against the government to declare banning of alcohol as unlawful. FAWU believes that the absence of the government in discussing mitigating factors and the implications thereof such as retrenchments, cuts to workers benefits, salary cuts, shutting down mostly black-owned small businesses, disadvantaging rural communities who survive through alcohol sales, restaurants that can’t survive without selling alcohol, means that now it will be the duty of the court to pronounce on the lawfulness of government’s decisions. 

We expect government to apply its energy to access the larger proportion of the population to be vaccinated as a solution, rather than offering opportunities for criminals such as illicit traders to take over the sector.

In the coming pronouncement, we hope that the government will not only talk of opening and/ closing but commit to involve all stakeholders of which would provide a platform to discuss mitigating implications in the sectors. 

For more information, please contact the General Secretary, Mayoyo Mngomezulu on 082 440 4039 or at mngomezulu.mayoyo@fawu.org.za or the Deputy General Secretary, Vuka Chonco on 082 499 5854 or vuka.chonco@fawu.org.za

 

 

CLOSURE OF LICHTENBURG CLOVER DUE TO RESTRUCTURING

 

The Food and Allied Workers' Union notes the public outcry over the closure of the Clover cheese factory in Lichtenburg in the North West that will affect some 227 members out of a workforce of close to 300 employees. We are shocked but not surprised at the company’s revelations.

 

FAWU wishes to place on record that the union has received a section 189 notice from the company in 2018 as a result of Clover’s intentions to embark on a restructuring process. It therefore cannot be true that the closure of the cheese factory is solely due to municipal service delivery failures.  While it might have been a contributing factor at the time, the company did not reveal any service delivery related problems to FAWU. In fact, it seemed the move came because of a planned merger between Clover and Milco which went to the Competition Commission for approval in 2019. To this effect, the company made known their intentions to merge certain production plants and undergo a subsequent section 197 transfer that affected many employees. During a session at the Competition Commission Tribunals, Clover even assured FAWU that employees would not suffer job losses and that current jobs will be guaranteed until October 2022 when the Lichtenburg plant is scheduled to shut down for good.

 

While the company calls the process “restructuring” it still makes it difficult for workers to keep their jobs as some are unable or unwilling to relocate and therefore subject themselves to voluntary packages. In the end it amounts to job losses albeit indirect. A few employees have subsequently accepted job offers in Durban and other plants. However many are frustrated about the process and doubt whether they will accept the offer to relocate due to anticipated expenses and uncertainties.

FAWU is of the view that Clover, like other companies could have made other arrangement or a plan to mitigate around poor infrastructure if they were indeed genuine in terms of preserving jobs.

 

The closure of the Clover plant in Lichtenburg will affect entire families, communities and will negatively impact the township economy as purchasing power is taken away from many who relied on the company for income.

 

FAWU is doing everything in its ability but we are limited in terms of challenging current labour legislation. We are of the view that government needs to intervene to account as to why infrastructure is an obstacle to job creation and preservation.

We will fight tooth and nail for justice for our members during this restructuring process!   

-

For more information please call FAWU General Secretary Mngomezulu Mayoyo - 082 440 4039 or the Deputy General Secretary Vuka Chonco - 082 499 5854. Released by Dominique Martin- 082 498 5631

FAWU Welcomes CCMA Findings Reinstating Members

 

Members Reinstated At Gallo Group Pty Ltd

 

Two Members of FAWU employed by Gallo Group, a mussel processing factory in Velddrif on the West Coast, were reinstated retrospectively through the outcome of an arbitration hearing at the CCMA (WECT2964-20) after being represented by FAWU organiser, Elind Haarder on 23 April 2021.

The award indicated that the dismissal was substantively unfair but procedurally fair.

The employer accused employees of acting fraudulently in relation to absenteeism by claiming sick leave instead of disclosing that they were on their way home when they were supposed to be at work. FAWU referred the matter to the CCMA after their dismissal on 31 January 2020. The employer alleged that the trust relationship has broken down and she could not continue to work with them.  The union claimed that the hearing was unfair since the initiator and the chair person is the same person. The employer claimed it was standard practice for her to chair meetings at the workplace due to the cost of using an outside party.

The purpose of the arbitration hearing was to determine whether the dismissals were substantively and procedurally fair. Commissioner M. Nash found the dismissal to be procedurally fair because …”a dismissal does not become automatically unfair when the initiator and the chairperson is the same person but rather, is based on whether the applicants were afforded the opportunity to defend themselves,” which did take place in this incident.

Commissioner Nash used The Code of Good Practice (Section 8- LRA) to assess whether the sanction was appropriate. He subsequently found that the applicants simply showed bad judgment and there was “ … a clear misrepresentation of the facts..” because of the failure to mention that they were still on their way home with a taxi on the day they were supposed to report to work.  He found the employees played open cards when confronted by the employer and showed remorse for their actions. The arbitration award mentions “…the sanction of dismissal was inappropriate although acts of dishonesty are regarded as serious transgressions. It does not however mean that dismissal is the appropriate sanction.” Commissioner Nash conveyed that he saw no evidence to suggest that reinstatement would be impractical, as it remains the primary remedy prescribed by the LRA. He also said that employees should be reminded of their responsibility to act honestly with their employers.

The effect of the lockdown and the delay of CCMA cases were considered when the two employees were awarded 5 months retrospective back pay due by the end May 2021 failing it will attract interest at the prescribed rate.  They were to report back to work by 1 June 2021.

 Viva FAWU!

FAWU Strongly Supports SAFTU Stayaway 24February 2021

 

NATIONAL STAYAWAY - 24 FEBRUARY 2021

The Food and Allied Workers Union is one of the Unions who, together with many workers and the poor in the country, suffers the brutality of the capitalist greed system, worse, even in the post-colonial government. 

Over 10, 8 million unemployed and counting, no interest from the current government to take the word of the working class to reshape policies designed to accommodate the larger part of the South African society who are the lowest paid and the poor. We don’t agree with the government using a narrow definition of unemployment that exclude the disgruntled unemployed since they do not have resources to look for jobs. The government is responsible for having not created employment as committed, except temporary employment that take citizens back to hunger. 

Child hunger alone is said to have increased up to 16% in the last quarter. Household hunger still affect over 1,6 million while no program or initiatives that incorporate the position of the working class to address this major crisis.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has not been declared indefinite, employers have been on the other hand, dismissing workers permanently even when bosses opened businesses after the regulations were relaxed. All this chasing profit race, happens while the government is watching without any pronouncement to defend workers. 

The government has yet again made another mockery to workers particularly farm workers offering them a lousy R21,69 per hour to survive. This is the same working class that has been content in the liberation struggle, right from where Khoisan people were peacefully enjoying an exclusive agricultural economy as indigenous people of our country, until the racist colonisers took their land and property. Since then, each generation of the working class fought in each epoch for liberation of South Africa. Today, the current government that follows capitalism which has no morals, farm workers (in the same agricultural sector) are subjected into an indefinite waiting period for a living wage in a “democratic country”. FAWU does not believe in life after death and so we shall never wait but fight to enjoy a better life. We shall not to pass poverty to another generation without a fight. 

Despite all labour laws just after 1994, workers from all sectors of our economy fought for the transformational legislations in workplaces since some bosses had no interest on providing skills, educating, promoting and providing economic opportunities in line with the responsibility of our country to develop itself. 

Nothing the above, two laws were promulgated in 1998, the Skills Development Act and Employment Equity Act as a result of workers fighting for transformation. Instead of government obligating bosses to transform workplaces using these laws, the government invited bosses to pay fines for years. Today, the black majority of workers who are the previously disadvantaged group retired without a better life they fought for. Even those retrenched, they lost jobs without any economic alternatives. 

We therefore encourage the current, particularly young workers of our country to not keep hoping that their lives will change for the better for the rest of their working lives. They should rather mobilise the entire working class and fight against the government who has never brought workers on board in the distribution of wealth. 

Nothing can convince the working class to wait forever. The cruelty of apartheid has not benefited the working class what so ever. Workers and the poor must unite and must never negotiate with capital any more as it never addresses crisis it creates. We shall reclaim and advance workers’ rights against the status quo.

Capitalism will continue to resurface in various forms as it has been the case in many generations, pre-democratic and post-colonial government. The government will continue to defend neo-liberal policies in the name of developing the country, yet this has been justified for over two decades that there is no current policy that is able to address inequalities, unemployment and poverty. 

We call upon all workers and all people in South Africa to join the SAFTU STAY AWAY on the 24th February 2021 and not to touch any value chain of any sector of our economy for this government to listen to the same class that put them in power. 

FAWU DEMANDS THE FOLLOWING:

 REVIEW THE NMW BY CONSULTING LABOUR INCLUDING SAFTU; 

 ALLOW SAFTU TO NEDLAC;

 INTRODUCE WEALTH TAX;

 STOP EVICTIONS AND DEVELOP EQUITY STAKE FOR FARM WORKERS; 

 EMPLOYERS TO GIVE WORKERS A LIVING WAGE; 

 EMPLOYERS WHO VIOLATE ANY LABOUR LAW MUST GO TO JAIL; 

 PLACE MORATORIUM ON RETRENCHMENTS; 

 PROTECT SOUTH AFRICAN ECONOMY BY NOT SELLING SA COMPANIES;                       OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY;

 NATIONALISE STRATEGIC SECTORS OF OUR ECONOMY;

 WE DEMAND CREATION OF DECENT JOBS;

 STOP VICTIMISATION AND EXPLOITATION OF MERCHANDISERS IN RETAIL,                   WORKERS IN HOSPITALITY AND FAST FOOD OUTLETS SECTOR INCLUDING                   FARM  WORKERS.  

SHUT DOWN THE COUNTRY – STAY AT HOME ON THE 24TH FEBRUARY 2021!!!!!!

For more information, feel free to contact Mayoyo Mngomezulu, FAWU General Secretary on 082 440 4039, mngomezulu.mayoyo@fawu.org.za or Vuka Chonco, FAWU Deputy General Secretary on 082 499 5854, vuka.chonco@fawu.org.za

FAWU Strike At INGRAIN (formerly known as Tongaat-Hulett Starch)

 

Hundreds of members of the Food and Allied Workers’ Union (FAWU) will embark on protected industrial action on Monday 22 February at 09h00 and will be demonstrating outside Ingrain Barloworld ( formerly Tongaat-Hulett's starch division) premises at the Kliprivier, Germiston and Meyerton mills in Gauteng and at the Bellville mills in Cape Town in demand of better wages and working conditions. The dispute arose after parties failed to reach an agreement in terms of the union’s demands as mandated by our members at a CCMA case held on 14 December 2020. Our members at the company’s starch division demand a 15 percent wage increase while the company offers a useless 3,5 percent.  Workers also seek a housing allowance, a covid-19 allowance for level 4 and 5, health insurance and an employee share-scheme. Our members were very clear that these demands must assist, raise or complement their standard of living under the difficult conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has ravaged lives. In far too many cases, breadwinners have lost their lives.

Workers in the food industry were classified as essential service to feed the nation during the level five Lockdown while we were all struggling to find new ways to deal with this pandemic. Now throughout all those difficult times of stress, fear, and uncertainties in terms of not knowing what will happen with their lives the next day- especially with the virus being all over and extremely contagious, workers had soldiered on in order to ensure that the production of the essential commodity to feed the nation continues and remain stable.  Our members did not say that they are not being paid danger allowance, and hence they will not work. They did not say that their lives come first but continued to prioritise their contractual obligation with the employer to produce and feed the nation.

The price of food was rising monthly due to supply and demand dynamics and most of the basic food basket was expensive to the extent that one needs to be selective on what should be in a basket of stable food requirements by the family. This was not the only challenge, transport to ferry workers to and from work has doubled in price, and what worsened the situation was the non-availability of other modes of public transport, which is still a problem even today. Trains are not there to complement the current modes of transport due to infrastructure challenges because of cable theft and vandalism of the rail. The escalating rate of unemployment has complicated the ability of adults to feed their families as most family members have lost their jobs and have to now rely on next of kin who are still employed. For this reason, our members have taken a firm position on what they have demanded from the beginning and being consistent on those demands despite the engagement at the level of CCMA where the commissioner has tried to reconcile both parties in vain. Therefore our demands are a product of a collective decision by all our members employed by Ingrain, they demand significant change in their livelihood as employees of this company. 

An online news article titled “Sweet ending for Tongaat- Hulett” reflects that the company has done well for the financial year that ended March 2020 published on 16 August 2020 on www.iol.co.za.

As a result, Tongaat -Hulett directors were rewarded with up to R 37.64 million in cash bonuses for their sterling performance in turning the company around for the agriculture and agri- processing business. This was published in another news article titled “Tongaat Hulett directors rewarded with R37.64 million in cash bonuses” on www.iol.co.za on 28 August 2020.

This in the same year in which the Company is alleging that they are operating under extreme difficult conditions, the very same year in which they allege that the COVID-19 outbreak and the imposed lockdown impacted negatively on their volumes. The very same year in which they claimed that the maize price increase to R3800v per ton, while on the one hand, they contradicted themselves by alleging domestic sales went down with no volume growth. Our members want to know how it was possible then to reward directors handsomely, while workers continued to be offered peanuts after all their hard work and dedication? This includes but is not limited to risking their lives as well as those of their loved one’s by working throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during the level five lockdown?

Our members strongly reject this situation of not being treated equally by the same employer, but at the same time facing the same environment outside where a basket of food is going up every month, e.g., in January 2021 it was R4 051, and increased by R 48, 78. This is unacceptable to all our members . We are not accepting exploitation of the workers’ class any longer.

For more information kindly call the FAWU General Secretary Mayoyo Mngomezulu on 082 440 4039 or Deputy General Secretary Vuka Chonco on 082 499 5854. Released by FAWU media officer, Dominique Martin - 082 498 5631

FAWU Commemorates 80th Anniversary

 

The Food and Allied Workers Union marks its 80^th year of existence since its establishment in 1941.

The union remains the largest organised trade union across the entire value chain in the agricultural sector food and beverage sector. In its 80^th year, FAWU remains at the forefront of organising and servicing workers in the food and related sectors.

The existence of FAWU is drawn from the historical background of a revolutionary cadre and a Communist from Russia, Rachel Ester Alexandrowich Simons, popular known as “Ma Ray” or Ray Alexander who is credited to have been the founder having been the resource behind the formation of FAWU. She worked with Lizzie Abrahams, Oscar Mpetha and many others soon after her arrival in the Cape when organising workers in the canning factories in the Boland area as well as the fishing workers in the West Coast. This was based on the exploitation by employers against workers in various forms, such as women being paid less than their male counterparts, worse working conditions, no benefits. With its successes, the union quickly built a name among workers and the success of the Fatti’s and Moni’s strike further enhanced its reputation as a militant union fighting for workers’ rights.

At the time of its launch on the 06^th February 1941, it was called Food & Canning Workers Union, launched as a socialist oriented Union to organise and represent the interest of workers and further drive the struggle through its campaign to address all ills of socio-political and economic matters that are directly or indirectly affecting workers and communities in pursuit for socialism that is accommodative to the majority of the people of South Africa. 

FAWU took its acronym after a merger of Sweet Food & Allied workers Union and Food & Canning workers Union and later RAWU being Retail & Allied Workers Union and many other Unions that handed over members to make one Union merged to form FAWU in pursuit of one industry, one Union. 

During its establishment, this was the time colonialism was at its best brutality by the racist government against black workers in its process toward reconstituting itself to apartheid machinery in 1948 and as a system that was even more exploitative towards workers who suffered various forms of discrimination including torture, imprisonment through the collaboration with employers against Shop stewards and leaders of the Union which were daily activities to crush the Unions in the country. Notwithstanding that this was a time when any moment could be the last for the life of a Shop steward and any leader of the Union, FAWU continued to raise the flag of the workers in the country.

FAWU stood the test of time despite many challenges as it is one of the Unions that witnessed having suffered from all forms of oppression in the country including laws that were designed to oppress the working class in general, such as, the Group Areas Act, the suppression of the Communism Act which saw Ray Alexander to jail with many leaders such as Josie Mpama, Dora Tamana, JB Marks, Albert Luthuli, Brian Bunting. Other legislations were the Population Registration Act, the unlawful organisation bill and many other discriminative laws.   

FAWU had a direct contact with SACTU (South African Congress of Trade Union) underground in Lusaka for political programs of advancing ANC publications as a political consciousness of workers across the country. This remained a strong connection between workers in the country and liberation fighters abroad.

FAWU has been vibrant even in the continent and at the international level in the context of international solidarity being an affiliate of the International Union of Food to advance the struggle of uniting workers across the globe.

Despite the above, FAWU continued to be part of many struggles of the working class such as the 1955 formation of the Freedom charter, the 1956 women march among others.

FAWU believed that women are not a separated section of community members, particularly in the community struggles and through again its leader Ray Alexender together with Hilda Bernstein formed the women movement called Federation of South African Women which advocated for the women equality in workplaces and in the society including children. This did not only argue for the voice and rights of women on equity perspective but also became a symbol of non-racialism as the members were coming from all race groups.

FAWU also played a pivotal role joining the mass democratic movement in later years with its Cadres as revolutionaries across formations including among others UDF, SASCO etc.

FAWU played an important role in the formation of COSATU to unite workers into one Federation and Chris Dlamini who was the President of FAWU became its founding Vice President and Jay Naidoo becoming its founding General Secretary. To date, FAWU remain principled to have together with other affiliates formed SAFTU (South African Federation of Trade Unions) as a Federation that is militant, campaigning, democratic and without any political relationship yet without being apolitical. 

FAWU will always be honoured to have worked with and took a baton from earlier generation of many revolutionary cadres in our labour movement such as Oscar Mpetha, Lizzie Abrahams, Chris Dlamini, Elizabeth Mafikeng, Frances Baard, Jay Naidoo, Lizzie Pike, David Maseko and many others in driving the liberation struggle

As a trade Union that is also responsible to respond to socio-economic challenges facing the working class, FAWU has in the current generation embarked on campaigns such as illicit trading, chicken dumping and all forms of unfair international trade, sugar tax etc. We shall continue to represent the risk members are faced with in workplaces during COVID-19 as they make profits for bosses through their labour without any compensation that matches their effort.

 

We salute all members of FAWU who remain as members in the struggle of workers in all our sectors against exploitation of bosses whose interest remain profit maximisation at the expense of members conforming to a capitalist greed system. 

FAWU acknowledges the challenges it has internally and externally. The unity and cohesion remains a test for the Union. Members are assured that the organisation will improve to be in its best efficiency for members to receive the best service they deserve including to ensure that there is respect of their constitution, policies and resolutions of FAWU. The affairs of the Union shall also improve to be in line with the exact mandate of the structures of the Union. The union officials will improve in defending the workers demands at all cost.

FAWU undertakes to take the struggle forward especially the vulnerable such as farm workers, workers in the restaurants and fast-food outlets, retail and hospitality and other sectors. The struggle will also continue against many challenges ranging from the crushing of Unions by the current government, such as new laws that makes it impossible for workers to go on strike, the minimum wage which entrenches more poverty, privatisation, refusing review neo-liberal policies to address poverty, unemployment and inequalities.

A day before the FAWU anniversary is the date FAWU lost one of the most selfless organiser in Cde Dr Neil Agget, who despite all forms of intimidation by the racist government,  remained determined to help the society and workers whose poor health condition through appalling working conditions in workplaces are given medical attention especially in black communities. A Cadre who never surrendered despite all forms of torture such as electric shock, assault but continued until his last moment on the 05^th February 1982. FAWU believes that Cde Dr Neil did not commit suicide but was assassinated. In this anniversary, we vow to continue with the campaign of ensuring that justice is served as the inquest is in progress in the South Gauteng High Court in that all those who contributed to his death are severely punished. 

FAWU will continue to drive the struggle of workers and to work with the working class in general in order to advocate for the liberation of the workers and the poor. 

 

Enquiries:Mayoyo Mngomezulu, FAWU General Secretary on 082 440 4039, mngomezulu.mayoyo@fawu.org.za or Vuka Chonco, FAWU Deputy General Secretary on 082 499 5854, vuka.chonco@fawu.org.za

FAWU National Office Bearers: President- Atwell Nazo, 1st Deputy President -Linda Ngqokoma, 2nd Deputy President-Patrick Maseko, Treasurer-Mark Oliver, General Secretary- Mayoyo Mngomezulu, Deputy General Secretary -Vuka Chonco