South African fruit grower Dutoit Agri has accused the Food and Allied Workers’ Union (FAWU) of misleading the public and not complying with previously negotiated agreements, following a union statement announcing that its members at the company's Ceres packing and cold storage facilities have gone on strike in a dispute over pay and working conditions.
While Dutoit Agri issued a statement to counter the FAWU release, it is understood that it is of the opinion that the trade union should bring its case to the negotiating table and that it sees no purpose in engaging in a war of words via the media.
Gys du Toit, managing director of Dutoit Agri, said FAWU’s media release was a deliberate ploy to mislead the public with misinformation and untruths. “The reality is that FAWU is not complying with previous negotiated agreements,' he said.
The strike at Dutoit Agri’s facilities is the second major strike aimed at a major fruit industry company in the Ceres region this year. Previously, Ceres Fruit Growers saw its operations halted for six weeks during a violent strike involving trade union members.
Du Toit noted that the FAWU has 'lost touch' with developments at grassroots level and showed little appreciation for employers who are developing the South African economy. “Businesses are creating employment opportunities that are desperately needed and which are providing social benefits to people at grassroots level,' he outlined.
He said that Dutoit Agri was proud of its achievements in creating sustainable jobs over a period of more than 100 years, and would not be deviated by 'unfounded allegations'.
“FAWU’s approach is apparently aimed at influencing workers to conduct themselves in a destructive manner, rather than one that will encourage investment,' du Toit continued. 'Dutoit Agri has made a wage increase proposal to its workers and they should decide for themselves whether they want to participate in strike action or whether they want to continue with their work.
'Dutoit Agri is, however, well aware of FAWU’s strategy of intimidating workers who want to exercise their democratic right for themselves to work, rather than strike,' he added. “FAWU will better serve the interest of workers to negotiate in good faith and in an honourable manner. If not the community will be at risk because Dutoit Agri workers will be deprived of their ability to put food on the table for them and their families.”
