FAWU encourages farmworkers’ to go back to work

Imogen Vollenhoven
27January 2013

The leadership of the Food and Allied Workers Union led by its General Secretary Katishi Masemola, visited the farming towns of Ceres and De Doorns yesterday to hold mass meetings of members of FAWU and interested farm workers and addressed their concerns, especially on victimization like dismissals and evictions, following the calling-off of strike action.

FAWU reiterates their call on all farm owners to allow all their workers back and nullify disciplinary actions and to allow those staying on farms to continue to dwell on farms.

Masemola adds  If anything, they still encourage all other farm owners and management to follow examples set by Antony De Vires the head of Keurboschkloof’s management company and Cape Orchard’ company’s Gerhard de Kock in negotiating with trade unions and recognizing their right to organize farm workers.

Masomola said as FAWU they still hope that industry associations will step up to the plate and negotiate with FAWU and its membership.

Masemola said actually, members of these associations are encouraged to do the right thing and allow workers back at work.

Masemola furthermore adds that as FAWU they will be using these mass meetings to collect a list of those farms, where members and workers are victimized, and to develop a plan on how to legally or through collective power confront them.