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COSATU in the Province of KwaZulu Natal is troubled by the news of the looming retrenchments in Rainbow Chicken Company. Out of desperation and panic, Rainbow workers approached COSATU to report about the meetings the employer is busy convening with different categories of workers, to inform them about the intentions of Rainbow to retrench. They report that out of about 500 workers in farms, the company intends to retrench around 300 workers and out of about 1500 workers in processing, the company plans cut almost 900 workers and the three shifts that the company has in processing be reduced to one.

Workers reported that even those that will be saved from the retirement will be subjected to a process where they will be expected to reapply into lower grades. This will cause a serious harm on the employment since other Provinces where there are Rainbow Companies are also at risk, including other stake holders and service providers who are aligned with Rainbow Chicken whether as suppliers or receivers.

Rainbow Company is a Sector which is organized by FAWU, a union that has just left COSATU. As COSATU, we therefore angered by the opportunism of the employer to attack workers at the time when they are at the weakest point, taking the advantage of the internal challenges of the union. The Federation will not keep quiet, but we will fight shoulder to shoulder with our poor workers in an attempt to protect their jobs.

We are making a firm call to all workers of Rainbow to unite against their real enemy which is the greedy system of capitalism and we urge Company bosses to responsible.This happens at a time when the price of food, including Rainbow Chicken is climbing every day.South Africa is currently faced with a huge level of unemployment and cannot afford to have more workers loosing employment.

It is also to voice our plea to FAWU to be careful on how as the union they handle the issue of the suspension of Shop Stewards, particularly in Rainbow since this can give more strength to the employer to advance its exploitative agenda. Farm workers have suffered enough and they deserve protection, and this all as activists for social change we must strive to achieve.

We avail ourselves as COSATU to engage with the employer and any other interested party to work out alternatives to save jobs at Rainbow Chicken and we will make every attempt to create a platform for engagement. We however want to be upfront as COSATU that we are in opposition of any retrenchment of workers but open to engagements about possible solutions to the challenges facing the Company.

It is our view that retrenchment should be the last resort, and companies must feel obliged to prevent job losses and do all within its powers to protect workers from loosing employment.We also call on the communities, especially in Hammersdale/Mpumalanga area, Cato ridge and all farms where the Rainbow Companies are operating to work with us as COSATU and unions to stop the retrenchments and exploitation of workers in those areas.

Issued by COSATU KZN