South Africa: Breweries operate as usual - SABMiller

SABMiller PLC said on January, 11 its beer operations in South Africa are operating as usual, unaffected by a strike over pay at the company's soft drinks unit, Dow Jones reports.

About 120 workers at South African Breweries Ltd., which produces brands including Castle Lager and Miller Genuine Draft, joined a rally held by some 600 members of the Food and Allied Worker's Union in the Johannesburg suburb of Sandton, the company said.

It dismissed a claim by the union that three breweries in the central province of Gauteng would close while workers attended the gathering, during which a memorandum was handed to company management.

The company said only about 45% of unionized FAWU members have joined the strike that began Dec. 22, primarily at its Amalgamated Beverage Industries Ltd. unit, one of the largest producers and distributors of Coca-Cola Co. (KO) brands in the southern hemisphere.

13 January, 2010