ABI+Management+Curbs+Worker+Freedom+of+Expression,+FAWU

Food & Allied Workers Union
Vuyisile Mini Centre, Cnr NY1 and NY 110, Guguletu, 7750 - PO Box 1234 Woodstock, 7915 Tel (021) 637 9040, Fax (021) 637 9190 - E-mail: **dominique@fawu.org.za**


 * HEAD OFFICE

2 April 2005**

FAWU PRESS RELEASE
=ABI Management Curbs Workers’ Freedom of Expression=

Management of Amalgamated Beverage Industry (ABI) at the company’s Pretoria plant informed workers on Monday that they should not call out “Viva ANC, Viva” during memorial services for members whom have passed on. FAWU is of the view that this kind of behaviour is //blatant discrimination// against our members’ political beliefs and //reminiscent of the apartheid government//. We strongly disagree with ABI’s request to members to curb their freedom of expression.

It is extremely disappointing that eleven years into our democracy, a //so-called// progressive company like this want to strip its workers from their hard won democratic rights. Members were used to convening these memorial services on the company’s premises until the recent announcement from management. Some workers allege that recent changes in the management could be blamed for coming up with these regulations. According to workers here, 85% of management is white and members of the opposition parties.

Our members were about to conduct a memorial service for the late comrade Robert Mushwane who used to work at the company. We offer our sincerest condolences to the Mushwane family and hope that they will not allow this turn of events to spoil the memories they have of a fallen FAWU comrade.