Winery strike talks reach standstill

Cape Town - A David versus Goliath battle between factory workers and Robertson Winery has reached a deadlock yet again.

Workers have been striking for almost 12 weeks, demanding an R8 500 monthly salary, substantially up on the current R2 900 and R3 500.

The Commercial Stevedoring Agriculture and Allied Workers Union (CSAAWU), representing more than 200 Robertson Winery workers, also demanded a joint committee to investigate the alleged violation of workers’ rights.

After the winery was featured in Danish investigative journalist Tom Heinemann's documentary Bitter grapes - Slavery in the vineyards, Danish shops subsequently refused to stock their products.

The documentary exposed the exploitative working conditions of farm workers in the wine industry, comparing them to slavery and the owners' use of the apartheid-era “dop” system.

CSAAWU deputy secretary Karel Swart said in a statement that workers had conceded their demand for an R8 500 living wage and agreed to a R400 increase.

He said the winery's management refused to accept a peace-clause agreement stipulating no disciplinary action would be taken against striking workers.

Robertson Winery’s human resources manager, Reinette Jordaan, said it was news to them that the 8 percent (R400) increase had been accepted.

“Talks regarding the wage, bonuses and peace clause were well under way until CSAAWU unexpectedly reverted to their original demands.

“This was considered a dead-end and the reason for the CCMA to withdraw as it was a waste of taxpayers' money,” said Jordaan.

She said CSAAWU was not interested in reaching a resolution, but in pushing its own agenda.

She said the union was using misinformation to blatantly influence workers to continue the strike.

dominic.adriaanse@inl.co.za

CAPE TIMES