Winery, union renew talks

IN ANOTHER effort to end a deadlock in their annual wage negotiations, the Commercial Stevedore Agricultural and Allied Workers Union (CSAAWU) will today renew talks with the Robertson Winery management.

The union represents about 250 production-line workers.

CSAAWU spokesperson Karel Swart said the union and management would begin negotiations with the assistance of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

“Another big issue that remains at Robertson Winery is the level of mistrust. Workers have to clock out for any small matter, even when they go to the toilet. There are also issues of how the company deals with discipline. The union considers much of the discipline to be very punitive and not assisting workers at all,” Swart said.

In 2016, 220 workers downed tools for almost 14 weeks in their fight for an R8 500 living wage, substantially up on the then R2 900 and R3 500.

Workers conceded to an 8% or R400 increase.

The union said although it had not achieved its desired living wage, the wine industry would never be the same.

Robertson Winery’s human resources manager, Reinette Jordaan, said both parties had reached an agreement on 13 matters and were attempting to reach agreement on another 10.