Photo courtesy of Thembi Luckett.
23 September 2015
The Commercial, Stevedoring, Agricultural and Allied Workers union (Csaawu) announced today that it will not be forced to close down.
The union faced bankruptcy after two Labour Court judgements in 2014 that awarded costs against the farmworkers and the union. This debt amounted to nearly R600,000.
The cases arose from the protests on the farms in the Western Cape in 2012-13. Csaawu filed for leave to appeal, but on 14 August 2015, the Constitutional Court dismissed the union’s plea to have the two cost orders overturned.
“Csaawu has reached agreements with the farmers in whose favour the orders were granted, and the litigation together with the publicity around it has enabled Csaawu to raise funds which will allow it to pay off the once debilitating costs orders,” the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Earlier this month, R400,000 was paid to the farmers. Csaawu is currently engaged in further fundraising to pay off the outstanding amounts before the end of the year.”
The union was forced to go door-to-door on farms between Robertson and Ladysmith last month. Csaawu also started a website called “Keep Csaawu doors open!” last year.