GroundUp reports that Premier employees at Blue Ribbon bread in Salt River have been on a protected strike since 28 November over wages and working conditions.  

Their grievances include the withdrawal of a paid lunch hour and reducing Sunday rates from double pay to one and half times normal rate.  The employees, who are represented by the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu), maintain they will continue with the strike.  According to Premier’s Siobhan O’Sullivan, the strike has been marked by violence and intimidation of employees, traders and consumers.  She said the company had no evidence to support an accusation that the “K” word had been used by management.  Regarding the other grievances, O’Sullivan said the changes were to align the Salt River operations with the rest of Premier’s businesses and they were all in line with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.  Management will apparently be meeting Fawu at the CCMA on 4 March.  Premier has offered a three-year, 8% wage increase.  Fawu general secretary Katishi Masemola said the workers had initially demanded 9%, and would accept 8%, but only in a one-year deal.  He threatened a national solidarity strike at all Premier bakeries and milling operations.  “They are ready and just waiting for us to announce the date,” he said.

• Read the original version of Tariro Washinyira’s report in full at GroundUp

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