Re: Economic Equality Charter call to boycott Pioneer Foods averted The Western Cape Social Economic Development Forum called for all South Africans to support the Economic Equality Charter Campaign by boycotting Pioneer Foods and their products as of the 1st November 2013, but the boycott was later recalled once Pioneer Foods responded positively to a request to meet with the Economic Equality Campaign team and discuss a way forward which would address the need for transformation in its procurement practices and other areas of concern. A planned march to the corporate head offices scheduled for next week has been officially called off following a negotiated settlement with Pioneer Foods group around areas of agreement and cooperation reached today. The Economic Equality Campaign team, headed by campaign coordinate and spokesperson Wesley Douglas, along with Deputy Chairperson of the Western Cape Social and Economic Development forum , Ayanda Nkhule and others, met with Pioneer Foods, represented by the CEO Phil Roux and some of the executives and senior staff, at the their corporate headquarters in Paarl this afternoon. In the meeting both sides put forward their positions around transformation, economic development, procurement and employment equity and discussed a middle path between the frustration felt by the broader public and the constituencies represented by the WCSEDF and the need to balance this with the realities of economic growth, profitability, shareholder accountability and the global economic situation. Both sides agreed that the pace of economic transformation in South Africa was too slow and that there was a need for positive dialogue between civil society, government and business and radical change. The Following was some of the discussions and agreements flowing out of the meeting: 1. The intention of the meeting from the WCSEDF side was to get Pioneer Foods to commit to activating a more radical transformative approach it its procurement policy to ensure that more procurement is done from black business and specifically black smmes in the Western Cape and in South Africa. Pioneer foods in the meeting agreed to engage with our database of black businesses and any other qualifying smme, which operates in their space, and facilitate opportunities for those black businesses to be part of their procurement strategies, provided they meet the requirements of normal service delivery. 2. Following the establishment of the new BBBEEE codes in October this year, the pioneer Foods team agreed to work with the Forum and the economic equality charter team, to ensure that the new enterprise development legislation is rolled out in consultation with the forum, the community and smmes. 3. That the WCSEDF would suspend the planned boycott, march, name and shame, divest and white-list actions against the company because of the agreements reached and because there was sufficient good will between the parties to ensure that a positive outcome that is good for all South Africans and the South African economy is forthcoming. The WCSEDF would like to thank Phil Roux, CEO of Pioneer Foods and his team, for their openness and willingness to discuss the good work they are already doing in terms of transformation, CSI and Enterprise development in Pioneer Foods and for taking up our challenge to radically transform their procurement policy to reflect that good sentiment towards the people of South Africa. The Economic Equality Charter team and the WCSEDF views this meeting as a victory for the campaign and whilst it is confident that Pioneer Foods will seriously address black smme procurement in the time-frames discussed in the meeting, the campaign reserves the right to reengage Pioneer Foods through direct action and boycotts should their commitments to procurement transformation and economic transformation prove to be anything less than genuine. Lat week, the economic equality Charter team sent two letters, one too Pioneer Foods and another to Murray and Roberts, regarding meeting with them before proceeding with Boycott , name and shame, divest and white-list actions against them. Whilst pioneer Foods has been forthcoming and have met with us and are helping to stabilize our nation by addressing black economic equality and procurement with great urgency, Murray and Roberts has seen it fit not to even respond to our letter or acknowledge receipt of our communication. This reflects the arrogance we know them to possess as part of the construction industry cartels and monopoly which was recently fined millions of Rands by the Competition Commission for noncompetitive behavior, again showcasing their enforcement of black business exclusionary practices in the construction industry. As they have not responded to our letter and refuse to meet with us we will be speaking to our member organisations consisting of black businesses chambers, labor unions, faith based organisations, NGOs and influential corporate and political individuals to begin boycotting, demonstrating naming and shaming, white-listing and divesting from Murray and Roberts. They have been warned. Attached please find photographs of the meeting with the Pioneer team and the Economic equality Charter team today For more information please contact: Wesley Douglas Mobile : 0795798151 Email : economicequalitycharter@gmail
Posted on: Sat, 09 Nov 2013 10:54:09 +0000