480+FAWU+members+on+strike+at+Kraft,+Elandsfontein,+East+Rand

FAWU, News Release: For Immediate Attention

 * Thursday, 1 June 2006**

=Kraft SA Workers On Strike=

About 480 FAWU members are on a protected strike at Kraft SA in Elandsfontein since Thursday, 25 May 2006. The strike action is centred around a wage dispute as well as working conditions. It has also come to our attention that two casual workers have been injured on duty on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. A pallet apparently fell on one casual while the other were injured by a machine. These workers have no experience and were brought in as part of a team of scab labour from neighbouring townships like Tembisa, Pretoria and Soweto. FAWU is utterly shocked at the multinational company’s decision to disregard South African labour laws and non-compliance with a collective agreement about the use of casual labour during industrial action. The two parties have an agreement that the company would use casuals that are familiar with the type of work performed on the plant. FAWU urges the Department of Labour to investigate speedily into current health and safety standards at the company as well as the exact causes of these “accidents”.


 * //FAWU members demand//****:**

An eight percent wage increase whilst the company offers 5 percent; Severance pay of four weeks versus the status quo of two weeks; A moratorium on retrenchment; and A night shift allowance of 25 percent versus the current 20%.

FAWU has called for a moratorium on retrenchment to give the union time to have a proper input into such processes. As expected, the company claims they can’t entertain a moratorium. The company also offers severance pay of three weeks for every year worked but the catch is- that it is meant for workers over the age of fifty only. The union however refused to accept this offer, as we believe that it boils down to discrimination based on age and will bring divisions amongst our members.

FAWU strongly believes that the company acted irrationally and prematurely in terms of its lockout without adhering to the 48-hour notice as stipulated in the Labour Regulations Act. By doing so, it was impossible for any probability for parties to engage one another. Furthermore we strongly believe that we have sufficient grounds to challenge the company’s non-compliance with possible legal action.

The Elandsfontein plant is the only production unit in South Africa.The union has indicated its availability to discuss possible solutions to resolve the dispute.


 * Released By: FAWU media officer, Dominique Swartz @ 021 637 9040 or 082 498 5631.**


 * Contact person: FAWU shop steward, Vincent Ditse, 073 7888 530**

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