South African brewers down tools over wages
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}File picture shows a comedian posing in a satirical T-shirt outside of the premises of the world's second largest beer brewer SABMiller in Cape Town on February 21, 2003 (AFP/File)
Over 2,000 workers at SABMiller's South African affiliate embarked on an indefinite strike on Monday demanding a 9.5 percent wage increase, a union said.
"Nearly 2,300 workers from various SAB centres did not report for duty today," said Katishi Masemola, the general secretary of Food and Allied Union.
South African Breweries (SAB) -- the subsidiary of the world second largest brewer, SABMiller -- is offering a seven percent increase.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Masemola said wage negotiations with the company collapsed on Friday.
The firm said in a statement it was disappointing that the unions had decided to go on strike "over such a small difference in the wage position."
A total of 5,600 workers are employed in the company's beer division and the brewer said production had not been affected as a result of the strike.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}SAB Managing Director, Mauricio Leyva, said that the firm would retain its seven percent offer, despite the strike.
He said the offer would push the average shift wages to around $1,800 a month, including allowances.
Several South African companies have been hit by industrial strikes over the last two months, spanning the mining, construction and transport sectors.