Bottling group Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) is reportedly planning to close two factories in a move that could lead to more than 600 job losses.
According to a report on Wednesday (17 September) from South African Broadcasting Corp. (SABC), based on a ‘document’ its news division has seen, the bottler intends to shut sites in Bloemfontein and East London as part of a wider restructuring designed to address financial challenges.
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SABC carried a comment from Edwin Mabowa, deputy general secretary of South Africa’s Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU).
Mabowa accused CCBSA of going behind the union’s back to negotiate directly with workers and plans to challenge the potential job cuts as the decision has not gone before the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
He told SABC: “Before we can even have our first meeting with the CCMA, the company is going behind our backs and consulting with the employees individually or otherwise to an extent that they are telling you that first phase and the second phase is completed.
“According to the union, there is no first and second phase.”
Mabowa added the company had served notice to the union, along with an application to the CCMA starting from today (19 September).
Just Drinks has approached CCBSA to confirm the company’s plans and the FAWU for comment.
Meanwhile, Motshidisi Mokwena, Coca-Cola’s head of communications in South Africa, told local news website IOL: “Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa intends to make adjustments to its organisation that, if implemented, may result in some roles being impacted and may, unfortunately, result in job losses.”
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By GlobalDataShe confirmed to IOL that consultations with unions and affected employees have already begun.
“We have started a consultation process with unions and non-unionised employees who may be impacted,” she told IOL.
“Our priority is to support affected colleagues with fairness, transparency, and compassion during this process. Consultations are underway, and no final decision has been made.”
The news follows an announcement last year that Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) would make a $50m investment in a new bottling line at its plant in Windhoek, Namibia.
