Strike action to hit Checkers and Shoprite
Workers belonging to the South African Commercial, Catering
and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu) will down tools at retailers Checkers and
Shoprite on Friday.
The union says it has been locked in a dispute over working conditions since 2015.
Saccawu’s Lucas Ramatlhodi says the disputes centres around trading hours, which it believes endanger the safety of workers.
‘’Checkers Shoprite engaged in a process that not only changed the conditions of employment but practically undermined the decent jobs agenda and job security.
‘’The company believes there is nothing wrong for workers to report for work in the very early hours of the morning or knock off late, with no safe and reliable transport arranged for them by the company.’’
The strike comes days before the busy Christmas shopping period.
The union is also demanding the reinstatement of 23 workers from a shop in Sandton.
Ramatlhodi says they were fired after protesting the company’s working conditions and reliable transport.
One of the company’s shareholders, Christo Wiese, recently stepped down as chairperson of troubled retailer Steinhoff. He is selling his shares at a time when the giant retailer was trying to secure a stake in Shoprite Holdings.
The company has not been available for comment.