COSATU+backs+Blue+Ribbon+strikers

COSATU Media Release, Thu 2007/03/29 12:34 PM
=COSATU backs Blue Ribbon strikers=

The Congress of South African Trade Unions gives its full support to the Food and Allied Workers Union in its dispute with Blue Ribbon bakeries, a subsidiary of Premier Foods, and especially their justified demand for a central bargaining forum.

About 2000 workers have been on a national strike for more than three weeks, during which management has refused to negotiate around the issue. It claims that a central bargaining forum “does not make economic sense”, and has rejected a advisory award from the CCMA to review the National Recognition Agreement which they unilaterally terminated in 1997.

We share FAWU’s anger that “a 100% black-owned and controlled company such as Premier Foods, which is supposed to be progressive, can continue to ill-treat its workers”. COSATU calls upon the company to see sense and sit down to negotiate a settlement with FAWU. It is no-one’s interests for this dispute to drag out any longer.

In the meantime COSATU is backing FAWU’s call for a consumer boycott on all Premier products, such as Iwisa and Impala maize meal, Invicta samp, the Snowflake flour range and particularly Blue Ribbon bread. We have called upon members of all affiliates and the South African public to support this consumer boycott until a satisfactory settlement is reached.


 * Patrick Craven (National Spokesperson)**
 * Congress of South African Trade Unions**
 * 1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets**
 * Braamfontein, 2017**


 * P.O.Box 1019**
 * Johannesburg, 2000**
 * SOUTH AFRICA**


 * Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24**
 * Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940/ 086 603 9667**
 * Cell: 0828217456**
 * E-Mail:** **patrick@cosatu.org.za**

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