Union warns of rolling mass action against proposed tax on sugar-sweetened drinks
The Food and Allied Workers Union says it will not stay sweet for long if the government does not drop its plans for a sugar tax. On Monday, union president Artwell Mazo and general secretary Ntatishi Masemola led a handful of members on a protest march against the sugar-sweetened beverages tax to the Treasury head office in Pretoria. Mazo criticised the introduction of such a tax in a country with an unemployment rate of over 40%. He blamed the low turnout for the march on "bosses refusing to release workers to protect their jobs". The protest was just a warning shot ahead of the rolling protests across the country before next year’s budget, Mazo said. "This is a build-up to our biggest marches that will be held in major cities Durban‚ Cape Town and Pretoria prior to finance minister (Pravin Gordhan’s) budget speech‚" he said. In a memorandum handed to a deputy director in the Treasury‚ Lwazi Giba‚ Fawu demanded the Treasury and the Department of Health convene a stakeholder summit...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.