Cosatu must be held liable – Agri SA

THREATS of renewed protest action in the agriculture sector proved that unions should be held accountable for damages during the strike in the Boland, Agri SA president Johannes Moller said.

Cosatu in particular should be held liable because of statements made during the protests over wages and working conditions, he said.

Last week Cosatu said it would call for more protest action if farmers continued dismissing workers and undermined the minimum wage. The Food and Allied Workers’ Union and Bawsi Agricultural Workers’ Union said they would support a strike against farmers who did not abide by the new minimum wage.

“Cosatu’s statement confirms their direct involvement in the inciting and arranging of the unprotected farmworker strike in the Western Cape,” Moller said.

“This strengthens the possibility of this organisation being held liable for damages caused during violent labour action. Agri SA is proud of the farmers’ selfcontrol during the strike, in sharp contrast to the disruptive… circumstances which they confronted.”

He said consequences of increased wages would not be resolved by Cosatu’s threats.

Moller said Agri SA had advised farmers to apply for exemption from the new R105 a day minimum wage, which will come into effect on Friday.