The Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) on Tuesday evening threatened a consumer boycott of all SA Breweries products if some of their members were not reinstated.
”We will take the matter forward. Some issues we will take up seriously, including a total boycott of SAB products until such time as the matter is resolved,” said Fawu president Patrick Jonson, one of a group of about 20 Fawu members who chained and shackled themselves outside SAB’s Newlands depot.
Jonson said SAB’s action sent a clear message to government that certain labour laws could be manipulated.
”Comrade Mdladlana [Membathisi, the Labour Minister] must look at this,” he said.
Fawu Secretary General Derrick Cele echoed Jonson’s resolve, saying ”enough is enough”.
Cele said SAB was continuing to undermine the courts and institutions such as the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
Fawu leadership has given SAB until Friday to reinstate fired workers failing which a section 77 notice will be lodged at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) for possible strike action.
Tuesday evening’s protest follows a protracted legal battle between Fawu members and SAB, initiated after 138 workers were dismissed in 2001. A recent Cape Labour Court ruling saw 61 workers reinstated and 54 receiving compensation for nine months.
However, Fawu received a letter on Tuesday from SAB indicating that they would be appealing the judgement, sparking the chain protest. – Sapa