Durban - Massmart said the group does not anticipate disruptions to normal store trading activity as a result of strike action at Makro stores over a wage dispute.
Speaking to The Mercury on Wednesday, senior vice-president of Massmart group corporate affairs, Brian Leroni, confirmed that Makro was advised on October 24 of the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union’s (Saccawu’s) intention to embark on a three-day strike at its stores.
Leroni said on Monday six stores had conducted strike ballots, three of which voted against strike action.
“The union demands include a 12% wage increase and increasing sales commission from 10% to 20%, both of which are intuitively unrealistic,” he said.
Makro has implemented strike contingency plans that include deploying temporary employees who have been trained in store processes, he said.
“We do not anticipate disruption to normal store trading activity as the result of the strike action,” said Leroni.
Saccawu said Makro Cornubia members commenced strike action on Wednesday as part of a national action by the union in pursuit of the just and reasonable demands by workers.
“Our members have reached a point where they can no (longer) tolerate the brutality that they are confronted with as a result of the exploitative working conditions, including but not limited to low wages, and non-ending retrenchment. It’s all or nothing. This is the message that employers understand better,” said the union on its Facebook page.
In a statement on Wednesday, Cosatu said it supports members of affiliate union Saccawu.
Saccawu members demand the following:
- An across-the-board increase of R900 or 12%, whichever is the greater.
- A minimum wage of R8 000.
- An improvement in commission from 10% on margin to 20% on margin for the salesperson.
- An increase in category 3 working hours from 160 to 195 per month.
- 13th cheque to be separated from the December salary.
- A uniform allowance of R100.
- Moratorium on retrenchments for the duration of the agreement.
Cosatu national spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said the demands of the workers are valid.
“We call on the company to accede to these reasonable demands. They should work with the union to find an amicable solution to the current impasse,” he said.
Pamla said all the demands are in line with the escalating cost of living that has seen the price of everything go through the roof.
“The 14th national congress of Cosatu was clear that the only way to respond to such challenges is for workers to take forward their struggles, advance and defend their interests and aspirations,” he said.
Makro workers in Ottery in the Western Cape held placards and sang songs in protest in the parking area of the store on Wednesday.
