by FoodBizDaily.com staff writer
January 20 2010 - The Food and Allied Workers' Union (Fawu) is planning a to launch a campaign against Coca-Cola products after unsuccessful wage talks with Amalgamated Beverages Industries, one of the largest producers and distributors of Coca-Cola products in the southern hemisphere.
South Africa Unions called for boycott of Coca-Cola Company products due to current disagreements about the amount of the annual salary increases.
The unions went on strike on the eve of the World Cup, planning to compel the US company (one of the major sponsors of the World Cup) to make concessions to workers’ demands.
About 2500 members of the union are demanding a salary increase by 9,5% instead of the proposed 7,8%. However the representatives of the company has already said that its workers already receive one of the highest salary in South Africa which starts from $1,000 per month.
Workers have been on a countrywide strike since the end of last year, threatening to run the country dry of Coca-Cola.
The union said its members continue to strike and will picket manufacturing plants daily. It has scheduled a meeting of key officials for Thursday to prepare a campaign against Coca-Cola ahead of and during the World Cup, which will be held in South Africa from June. FAWU said a letter has been sent to Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee, asking for a meeting to discuss Coca-Cola's World Cup sponsorship.
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