Unions threaten to occupy Clover factories as strike enters fifth week
The Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU) and the General Industries Workers Unions of South Africa (GIWUSA) have threatened to occupy Clover factories around the country if the demands of just over 5000 striking workers are not met.
The strike over retrenchments and salary cuts enters its fifth week.
The unions are calling on South Africans to boycott Clover and stop buying their products in an effort to apply pressure on the company.
"We have printed thousands of leaflets that we have distributed and are calling on community activists to boycott Clover during the festive season. The destruction of Clover doesn't only affect our members, it affects entire communities. We are striking to save the jobs of our members but also communities that depend on clover for their local economies,' said Giwusa President Mametlwe Sebei.
The company has six factories across the country.
He was speaking in a joint virtual media briefing on Monday.
Fawu confirmed that just over 700 workers had been dismissed by the dairy company for refusing t o accept salary cuts.
Sebei said if their demands are not heard, there will be a need to occupy the factories.
"Occupation would mean that government needs to come to the party and take over the factories alongside the workers without clover and co-own it with workers and communities," explained Charles Phahla, GIWUSA's national organiser.
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