Kraft Foods owns 49% of one of the largest biscuit factories in Africa, Société Tunisienne de Biscuits (SAIDA). The acquisition happened when Kraft bought Danone's biscuit division. The SAIDA plant employs 1,600 workers of which 80% are women.
SAIDA workers are discovering what it means to be faced with Kraft's influence and a hostile management determined to limit or strip workers and their representatives of their rights.
After tough negotiations became deadlocked, the company resorted to escalating pressure on union negotiators. This pressure grew and, after a suspension of three days was handed to a union representative, the union needed to consult its members. During a period when the factory was not working as a result of a mechanical breakdown, the union convened a perfectly legitimate meeting of its members to discuss what to do next. Following the meeting, Zed Naloufi, the general secretary of the local union, was disciplined and summarily dismissed. His crime? Representing and meeting the members who elected him!
Typical of Kraft's aggressive labour relations policies and its abuse of rights through many of its operations, Kraft's hand is clearly visible here and this latest action cannot be allowed to stand.
We would ask that you urgently send a protest message to the company calling for the reinstatement of Zed Naloufi and a return to good faith negotiations.
Act now! To send a message please click here. [1]