Business Report writes that the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) on Thursday withdrew from the Competition Tribunal hearings on the Anheuser-Busch InBev’s (AB InBev) takeover of SABMiller, tasking away another hurdle in the approval of the merger.
Fawu general secretary Katishi Masemola said the union took the decision in order to keep its options open as it seeks to force AB InBev’s hand regarding the fate of SAB Zenzele, the black economic empowerment scheme of SAB, the South African subsidiary of SABMiller. The options included a strike, Masemola said. The union, which represents 4,200 employees at SABMiller, agreed with the merging companies that most conditions relating to the Zenzele scheme would be removed from the Competition Commission’s recommendation of the deal. Masemola described the move as a “tactical” retreat as the union did not want to be handcuffed by a tribunal ruling.” Fawu wants the Zenzele scheme to come to an end so that employees who are part of the scheme can benefit from the merger like other SABMiller shareholders. Masemola said the union would continue to negotiate with the merged entity and discussions were expected to start within two weeks.
- Read this report by Siseko Njobeni in full at Business Report
- Read too, Fawu and brewers in talks on empowerment scheme, at BDLive
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page