• Tweet

THIRST QUENCHER: South African Breweries is being accused of trying to maximise profit for shareholders by retrenching workers.

Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) national negotiator Sifiso Makhaye yesterday accused the SAB of putting the interest of shareholders above of that of workers.

"We are convinced that the SAB is doing very well at the moment, so there cannot be any reason for retrenchments other than greed for more profits," he said.

Makhaye said Fawu shop stewards would hold a meeting today (Monday) to discuss how to oppose the retrenchments.

He said the union was shocked that the SAB issued a notice of retrenchments during wage negotiations in which the union is demanding 9% and the company is offering 4.8%.

"We strongly believe that the deliberate timing of this notice is intended to divert focus from the current stalled and hostile negotiations on increases and benefits between Fawu and SAB. The way this notice has been issued goes against the norms and shocked our members since we regarded SAB as a growing and profitable business."

"This exercise is a ploy to appease shareholders by recycling labour into profit margins," he said.

SAB spokeswoman Robyn Chalmers confirmed that about 285 people, mostly from support functions, might be retrenched.

She said the company was implementing the next phase of its capability programme to ensure that it had the right skills, resources and experience to deliver on its business strategy.

"The programme was introduced in March to ensure a streamlined and efficient business. The aim was to identify positions that may have become redundant, where work was being duplicated as well as capability gaps that needed to be filled," she said.

"Initially 71 employees were retrenched and the review has continued looking particularly at ways to free up internal resources to allow for a greater focus on market-facing activities."

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Sun May 19 07:22:16 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 16, 2012

eKapa-

Hawu! siphuza kancane moss, cabanga ma kuxoshwa aba4be2 ngendaba yukuthi thina asibaniki umsebenzi ngoba sophuza amaBeer amncane.

Report Abuse

Jul 16, 2012

Nicholaster

I think guys at home must upgrade their drinking standard to save other's job.
Report Abuse

Jul 16, 2012

Limpopoist

it is clear that ANC lead Government if failing from both side..every company is retrenching south african ,and employing more cheap foreign nationals

ANC connected executive will have enough pay check annually...
Report Abuse

Jul 16, 2012

Limpopoist

@Nicholaster

There is no need to upgrade drinking habits,check Absa bank , Multichoice ,pick n pay ,spar list continue.

The best thing is to put stop on tons of immagrant that flooding our country where every idustry is taking advantage of them.


Report Abuse

Jul 16, 2012

TonyToniTone98

How much is ENOUGH!! More profits for these MF elistist at the expense of people jobs and to the detriment of their families. Again How much is ENOUGH!!
Report Abuse

Jul 17, 2012

Lehido

"She said the company was implementing the next phase of its capability programme to ensure that it had the right skills, resources and experience to deliver on its business strategy."

================

Whoever taught them this line must be shot,,,,Standard bank said the same, ABSA as well......


Report Abuse

Read all 6 comments