The Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) has demanded concrete commitments that the proposed merger between SABMiller, Gutsche Family Investments and Coca-Cola will not affect jobs and destroy local industries.  

The merger would see the creation of the biggest bottling firm in the Southern hemisphere, Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa.  Fawu general secretary Katishi Masemola on Friday submitted a witness statement to the Competition Tribunal in preparation for the hearings on the merger next month.  Fawu said it wanted to satisfy itself that the 250 workers who had been identified for potential retrenchment, were not being thrown under the bus and demanded details of how the workers from four companies were identified for retrenchment.  The union claimed the merger could put more “job titles” on the block and was concerned that only low-skilled workers were being targeted for retrenchment.  The union also demanded that the new company “harmonise” working conditions and benefits for all workers.

• Based on reports at City Press and Business Report
• See too, Minister kan Coca-Cola, SAB se plan pootjie, at Netwerk24

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