Company responds in dismissed staff case

WITH reference to the letter by Pat Kondile, published in the Weekend Post of September 28 under the heading “Plea for 74 to get ‘big-hearted' help", Coca-Cola Fortune (CCF) strives to be an inclusive company where rights are respected and employees are valued.

CCF prides itself on ensuring that all employees are treated with dignity and respect at all times. At no time has it, or will it, condone the verbal or any other abuse of any employee, irrespective of at which level in the organisation such an employee may be.

With specific reference to the dismissed East London employees, CCF was exposed to an unprotected strike during the months of November 2012 and April 2013 in its East London operations.

Extensive internal and external due process was followed and agreed upon by both the union Fawu and CCF.

CCF has zero tolerance towards any illegal work stoppages where internal and external due legal processes have not been followed. Illegal work stoppages do not lend themselves to the sustainability of CCF, nor to the culture of trust that is necessary between employer and employee.

It is further concerning when employees embark on illegal work stoppages in which the reason for the work stoppage and the resolution proposed infringe on the legal rights of a fellow employee or CCF as an entity.

Coca-Cola Fortune takes concerns relating to workplace practices very seriously. As a company, we remain committed to upholding workplace rights and sound labour practices and encourage our workforce to embrace these principles as well.

PHILIP NIEMAN, MANAGING DIRECTOR, COCA-COLA FORTUNE