South Africa: FAWU members at Rainbow Chicken on strike for improved wages, working conditions

27-06-2011

The 4,500 FAWU members at the farms and processing plants of Rainbow Chicken, South Africa's largest processor and marketer of chicken, have been on a national strike since 26 May in pursuit of a wage increase, a reduction in working hours and an increase in the minimum wage on the farms.

Processing workers currently work exhausting 9-hour days - many in cold-store facilities - and are demanding a reduction in working hours. FAWU is calling for a move from a 45 to a 40-hour work week and 8-hour shifts.

The company is currently employing scab labour. Workers remain adamant that they will remain on strike until their demands are met.

Source: FAWU [1]

The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) is an international federation of trade unions representing workers employed in agriculture and plantations; the preparation and manufacture of food and beverages; hotels, restaurants and catering services; all stages of tobacco processing. The IUF is composed of 394 affiliated organizations in 126 countries representing a combined membership of around 2,6 million.

How to contact the IUF:
Email: [email protected]
Post: Rampe du Pont-Rouge, 8, CH-1213, Petit-Lancy (Switzerland)
Phone: + 41 22 793 22 33
Fax: + 41 22 793 22 38

Links:
[1] http://www.fawu.org.za/show.php?ID=243&categ=Press%20Room