Fed-up workers down bottles, demand a 57% wage increase
Workers at one of the biggest wineries in Western Cape downed bottles yesterday in support of a union demand for an average 57% wage increase. Only six of more than 300 employees turned up for work at the Robertson Winery packing plant. The rest stayed away or picketed.There have been protracted negotiations since May between management and the Commercial, Stevedoring, Agricultural and Allied Workers' Union.Robertson Winery CEO Anton Cilliers said the company expected the strike to last for up to three weeks.The strikers said they were dissatisfied with the 8% wage offer, saying it amounted to little more than a R200 increase on an average monthly salary of R3100.Union organiser Deneco Dube said the Robertson group made huge profits but it refused to share the benefits with workers."We want to close the [income] gap between workers and management," Dube said. "But management refused to open their books to tell us how much they get."Cilliers said: "Robertson Winery remains committed to improving the living standards for all its employees and has a long-term strategy towards this end."..
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