CWAO IN THE NEWS

For more information, contact:
Gladys Thaane
Simunye Workers Forum
078 782 6058
Meme Makhaula
Casual Workers Advice Office
079 561 5903

The workers were supported throughout by the Casual Workers Advice Office (CWAO) and represented in the Labour Court by Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR).

Background to the case:
In 2018, more than 400 workers employed by labour brokers at Heineken were attending their s198 case at the CCMA. During the hearing, Heineken astonishingly told the Commissioner that it did not know who the workers were.

In response, the workers, who had been working at Heineken’s Sedibeng Brewery for years, took two taxis to Heineken’s head office in Sandton. If Heineken claimed not to know them, it seemed only reasonable to go and introduce themselves.

On 22 October 2018, they arrived at Heineken’s premises and held a peaceful protest outside, after management refused to meet with them.

Shortly afterwards, the labour broker at the time, Imperial, dismissed only the worker leaders involved in the protest. The dismissed workers referred an unfair dismissal dispute to the CCMA and then to the National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry.

From December 2018 until now, Heineken and the labour brokers have been delaying and avoiding workers’ claims. Liquor Runner, which took over from Imperial, falsely told the bargaining council that the workers had been on an unprotected strike. Because of this, the matter was referred to the Labour Court, where it remained stalled for years.

Just as the trial was set to begin last week, Liquor Runner dramatically reversed its position: they conceded that there had in fact been no unprotected strike. This concession meant the Labour Court could have sent the case back to the bargaining council.

But, facing the real possibility of losing the case, and with reinstatement on the table, Liquor Runner instead agreed to settle. Through the settlement, workers received more than the maximum amount of compensation that they would have got, had the bargaining council found that their dismissal was unfair. The settlement was made an order of Court on 15 May 2025.

CWAO and LHR salute the courage and resilience of these workers, who stood firm in the face of years of delay and denial, and who never wavered in their struggle against labour broking and exploitation at Heineken.

Gladys Thaane, one of the dismissed worker leaders, said “I’m feeling relieved that it’s all over now. I’m glad that finally there is a settlement. At least we can restart our lives. The struggle continues at Heineken.”

This settlement follows another significant milestone. In 2023, the CCMA issued an award in the original case brought in 2018, holding that Imperial was indeed acting as a labour broker at Heineken. Heineken and Imperial have taken that award on review to the Labour Court, where it remains pending.

This week’s settlement is a victory for workers. We encourage all workers at Heineken to continue organising, mobilising, and fighting for decent working conditions.

Gladys Thaane
Simunye Workers Forum
078 782 6058
Meme Makhaula
Casual Workers Advice Office
079 561 5903

Category: PRESS RELEASE | DISPUTES