Their work stoppage forms part of the national strike of the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU). Workers are demanding a 10% wage increase. A proposed 8% pay hike by Coca Cola was rejected last week.
While FAWU trade union negotiators were immersed in negotiations in Gauteng earlier today, the George Herald spoke to the local strikers who were standing around on the pavement of the Coca Cola warehouse in the George Industrial area.
"We work long hours as truck drivers, and when we get home late at night we run the risk of being robbed when we walk home," was one of the main grievances voiced by the men.
Jason Pretorius, one of the long-distance drivers said that he had been stabbed when he walked home in the early hours of the morning following a long shift which involved driving to Cape Town and back. The drivers demanded transport home in order not to run the gauntlet of "tikkoppe" in Sandkraal Road, George.
Coca Cola MD Philip Nieman, said in a statement issued this morning: "Coca Cola Fortune (CCF) and FAWU signed a National Substantive Agreement on 11 August 2014. CCF remains of the view that it has reached a point in its employment relationship with FAWU where substantive matters are solvable, and a far cry from unfair working conditions or unfair labour practices and this resolution is indicative thereof. CCF remains committed to making decisions that will promote the well-being of its employees and the sustainability of the business."
Read more in Thursday's George Herald, and online.
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Striking Coca Cola employees at the branch in George this morning. From left - Samuel Prins, Hendrik Luiters, Johannes Koeries, Hendrik Goede (FAWU Shop Stewart) and Pieter Campher.
Photo: Pauline Lourens
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