GEORGE NEWS - Altogether 46 employees of DistriLiq will be celebrating Christmas under a cloud in the knowledge that they will start 2026 jobless.
They received letters of retrenchment on 27 November in which notice was given that as of 24 December, they would no longer be in the company’s employ.
According to DistriLiq, the retrenchments are part of an operational restructuring process.
Dale Fish, representing the retrenched employees who are all members of the Independent Commercial Hospitality and Allied Workers Union (Ichawu), said the company's motivation to them was that it is operating at a loss. An offer for a 30-35% reduction in salaries to avoid retrenchment was made to the employees, which they could not accept. “How in this day and age can someone take a salary cut back to poverty?”
According to a copy of the retrenchment letter, by the 26 November deadline, none of the employees had responded to the “reasonable offer” of continued employment at a reduced salary. It states that the statutory consultation process had taken place.
Fish said the retrenchment's impact stretches much wider than the employees. “They have families they must look after, who are all affected. This time of year, Christmas, I just can’t believe it.”
Zander Venter, DistriLiq George’s operations manager, responded as follows to a query from the newspaper: “DistriLiq George is unfortunately undergoing a necessary operational restructuring process. The company disputes the allegations made by the union, Ichawu. The entire Section 189A consultation and retrenchment process has been legally facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
"The company has fully complied with all procedural and substantive requirements as prescribed by the Labour Relations Act. A formal dispute currently exists between the parties, and as such, we do not wish to jeopardise any legal proceedings by commenting on specific details or counter-claims through the media.
"The union and its members are aware of their rights and are currently following the legal avenues available to them.”
Dale Fish from Ichawu (front, left) and some of the retrenched employees. Photo supplied
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