GroundUp reports that workers at Frimax Foods factory in Verulam, Durban, will be taking the company to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) next week.

This comes as 100 of the 247 Frimax workers who were dismissed for participating in an unprotected strike earlier this month returned to work apparently on the basis that they were intimidated by those leading the strike. The workers downed tools on 5 June and were dismissed by the chip producing company soon thereafter.   According to workers, they went on strike after the company refused to negotiate about internal grievances related to discrimination, mistreatment and withholding some of their salaries with their new union, the African Meat Industry and Allied Trade Union (AMITU). While no formal dismissal notices were issued to the remaining 147 workers, the company posted a note at the factory’s entrance stating that all workers involved in the strike were fired. Frimax’s human resources manager, Deshni Govender, said they had given the dismissed workers a number of opportunities to return, but they had refused to engage with the company. She said a disciplinary hearing was held though none of the workers attended. “The relevant disciplinary procedures have been followed and the employees were found guilty for engaging in an illegal strike,” Govender indicated. According to Govender, Frimax has a closed shop agreement with the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU). She said it was explained to staff that AMITU could not represent them on internal matters. The CCMA matter will be heard on 7 July.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tsoanelo Sefoloko at GroundUp

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