SACCAWU is commencing an unlimited duration strike at one of the few manufacturers of vegan meat manufacturers in Durban tomorrow. SACCAWU organizes eighty percent (80%) of workers at this establishment. Fry’s Family Food is a member of the Vegan District Collection and has a commitment to 100% vegan and halaal certified products. The dispute is over wages and working conditions.
To date SACCAWU has demanded 190 hours a month and a R2, 90 per hour wage increase, with no short time and back paid from 1 July 2023. It is important to note what we are demanding here is in terms of the National Minimum Wages and the applicable Sectoral Determination. SACCAWU has also placed a demand of R800.00 medical aid allowance for workers who are all not covered for any eventuality commensurate to ay risks that may occur to their health. The company should stop all retrenchments that it has promised in response to our demands. The other demands relate to the utilization of short time by this company which is very disruptive to the livelihood of workers. We are demanding fixed hour so that workers can plan their lives as every workers is entitled to.
Workers in the groceries and food manufacturing sectors, as in Fry’s Food, are completely excluded from any social and health security cushions even though they contribute immensely to the company’s balance sheet. We view this as one of the most exploitative measures in the sector.
SACCAWU urges all vegans to support them in the strike by not buying and products from these stores. We are also urging distributors and producers not to direct their raw products to these stores until the company meets the reasonable demands of workers at all Fry’s Food and Drug Manufacturers.
The strike action will be held mainly at:
8 Focus Place
Mahogany Ridge
Westmead
Pinetown
Commencing at 08: 00 on 24 October 2023
For more information please call:
SACCAWU KZN REGION
Cnr, Salmon Groove & Victoria Embankment
Maritime House, 9th Floor, Suite 901-906
Cell: 082 336 9245
T: 031 304 1956 | 031 305 6505
F: 031 304 9086
OR
Sithembele Tshwete
Head: Research and Media
South African Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU)
(011) 403 8333
073 956 3108 or 082 336 5363