FAWU,+Bokomo+Foods+cereal+workers+on+strike+from+060827

Press Statement: For Immediate Release
Tuesday, August 29, 2006

=BOKOMO FOODS CEREAL WORKERS ON STRIKE=


 * (Bokomo:1)**

About 500 FAWU members in Cape Town (Epping and Atlantis), Kwa-Zulu Natal (Umngeni) and in Gauteng (Wadeville) employed by Bokomo Cereal division are on a protected national strike since 10h00 on Sunday, August 27. The union and the company is in dispute over wages and shift allowances. Workers at the Atlantis industrial plant have reported that some individuals from management are intimidating them, with one member being threatened with a firearm. Management are also refusing organizers access to the premises in order to engage in talks about the matter. FAWU advised the member to lay a criminal charge and we investigate the matter further.

FAWU is demanding 8 percent for the Nature’s Source plant in KZN to be backdated to 1 January 2006 and 7 percent for the other plants effective from July 1, 2006. The union is also demanding a shift allowance of 10 percent of basic wages for all shift workers.

The company is offering 6 percent to all and has made no offer in terms of the shift allowance despite the fact that the company ‘s profit analysis for the year stands at R66 188 613 which translates to 38,53 percent gross profit.

These plants produce popular porridge brands under the **Bokomo Cereal range such as Rice Krispies, Pronutro, Cornflakes, Weetbix, Maltabella, Kreemy Meal, Nature Source Mueslis, Otees, Bokomo Rusks.** Bokomo Cereals are now the second division within the Pioneer Foods group to go on strike following the Sasko bread strike, which started on August 18, 2006.


 * Released by: Dominique Swartz, FAWU media officer, 082 498 5631.**


 * Contact : Stimela Binda, Bargaining Secretary, 082 494 3058 or the writer above.**

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