The strike at Shoprite Checkers was well under way on Thursday morning with many of its 30 000 union members heeding a call to industrial action.
South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers’ Union deputy general secretary Mduduzi Mbongwe said although it was too soon for a head count it was clear many of its members were not at their workstations.
However, it would seem despite the industrial action that it was business as usual for the retail group and its subsidiaries.
Mbongwe maintained this was because Shoprite had been training casuals since Monday.
A visit by Sapa to the group’s store in Sandton saw managers working as packers and a security guard serving customers behind the cigarette counter.
”That is not normal,” said Mbongwe.
He said Shoprite had sent a ”problematic” proposal to the union on October 17 suggesting the reinstatement of the old (higher) hourly rate on condition there be no further pay increases until 2005.
”That was not acceptable. We asked them to improve on that but they haven’t come back to us.”
Mbongwe said he was pleased by the general response to the strike.
”We have received overwhelming support from the public. When they see the pickets they turn away and don’t shop [at Shoprite Checkers]. We hope the company will come to its senses soon.”
However, Shoprite’s human resources director Callie Burger said it was business as usual at the group’s stores.
”Early indications are that the strike is not widespread and that a minority of part-time employees are involved,” said Burger.
He said he believed the strike would be short-lived.
”Shoprite operates more than 600 stores throughout Africa. It is unlikely that a sporadic, localised strike by a minority of part-time employees will affect the business of the company, nor will it have material financial implications.”
He said the group would take steps to ensure that consumers were inconvenienced as little as possible.
”The company and the union agreed that no picketing and/or striking workers will be allowed into the stores.” — Sapa