Schoombee+Landgoed+and+Kwality+Biscuit+strikes,+FAWU

FAWU News Release: For Immediate Attention

 * Monday, 24 July 2006: 16h45 (CAT)**

=300 WORKERS ARRESTED DURING STRIKE=

300 FAWU members were arrested last Thursday on so -called allegations of intimidation. The workers and one FAWU official spent the past weekend in jail and remains in custody. The incident, which is the second arrest so far,EUR took place while workers were on a protected strike at the Schoombee Landgoed in Groblersdal, Mpumalanga.

500 FAWU members on Schoombee Landgoed have been on a protected strike since 22 June 2006. The union is demanding R 150.00 per month increase across the board as well as a thirteenth cheque. Our members were also unfairly charged with allegations of intimidation, which led to 9 members being arrested earlier last week. They were released on bail of R200.00 each. Tensions are rife between the striking workers and scab labour who has been brought in by the employer. A total of 800 workers are employed on the grape and citrus farm.

=Kwality Biscuit Strike=

200 FAWU members are on a legal strike at the Kwality plant in the Brommerspruit industrial area, near Pretoria, since the 6th of July 2006. Our members here earn a meagre wage of R205.00 per week and the employer is offering a mere twenty -five rand increase per week. Our members embarked on a strike because the last increase they've received was in 2003, and we think that they definitely deserve more than the peanuts (salary) the company is offering. It is our view that the company can afford to meet our demands as it happens to be part of the profitable Pioneer Food group. We reckon it is absurd that a company of its stature cannot provide its workers with at least a providend fund and an annual bonus.

Operations at the plant were at a complete standstill until management started bringing in scab labour last Thursday. ENDS**


 * Please contact the Regional Secretary, Simon Mabunele on 082 492 5131 OR FAWU President Samuel Khage on 082 550 9985 for more details.

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

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