YCL calls for ABI products boycott

The Young Communist League (YCL) has called for a boycott of Amalgamated Beverage Industries (ABI) products if the company refuses to meet workers' wage demands.

"It is high time people start boycotting ABI products, because the company has no respect for its workers," said YCL KwaZulu-Natal chairman Bheki Mbuthuma.

ABI is the soft drinks division of the South African Breweries (SAB).

Mbuthuma was addressing Food and Allied Workers' Union (FAWU) members who matched in Durban on Friday for a 9.5 percent wage increase. The company has offered them 8.3 percent.

More than 1000 ABI workers downed tools on December 22 in the dispute over wages.

Fawu has also demanded that all agreements with labour brokers be nullified.

Describing the pay demand as fair and reasonable, Mbuthuma said the company had received a huge surplus.

"It is clear that they don't want to listen. Their products should be boycotted," he said.

ABI and FAWU held wage talks on Wednesday at which a draft agreement was reached, but neither party would detail what it contained. FAWU undertook to seek feedback from its members.

ABI was hopeful that the strike would be resolved by Monday said spokeswoman Emma King.

ABI's offer of 8.3 percent included an across-the-board wage offer of 7.8 percent, to bringg the minimum wage to R7, 235.

The package included an increase in the education grant from R275 to R350, an increased Christmas voucher of R400, and increased cellphone allowance, a 45-hour working week and Saturday overtime.

However, addressing workers outside the Durban City Hall on Friday afternoon, FAWU's Thembinkosi Ngcobo said they still wanted 9.5 percent.

"The draft agreement will be scrutinised and the decision whether we accept it or not will be taken by the workers," said Ngcobo.

They would not rest until labour broking was abolished, he said.