Picketing and toyi-toying Pick ‘n Pay workers at the retailer’s high-profile store at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, as well as at its main Claremont headquarters, are disrupting shopping at the venues, reports said on Friday.
South Africa’s largest food retailer confirmed earlier that the strike by about 20 000 staff that are members of the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (Saccawu) is affecting 150 stores countrywide. Wage negotiations are continuing, however, the group said.
A large crowd of singing, chanting and picketing workers has gathered in front of the entrance to Pick ‘n Pay’s newly expanded store at the V&A Waterfront, preventing many potential shoppers from entering.
Store managers were seen trying to open gaps to allow customers through the line, but many shoppers were opting to avoid the hassle and noise.
Meanwhile, Pick ‘n Pay staff at the Claremont store are striking inside the store premises, as they do not have permission to strike on the street outside, also causing major disruptions for customers.
Retail analysts estimate the company could lose up to R50-million a day across all of the stores, depending on how short-staffed the stores were. Temporary workers could be contracted to fill the gaps, however, therefore limiting revenue losses.
Pick ‘n Pay has not yet said if it is hiring casual staff.
Commenting on the strike in a statement early Friday, Pick ‘n Pay CEO Sean Summers said: “We negotiated until midnight last night under the threat that the strike would continue no matter what the outcome was. The union would not move from their initial position.
“We respect the right of workers to withdraw their labour and sincerely hope that the union in turn respects our right to continue operating.
“We would like to thank our customers around the country who have poured into the stores this morning offering help and assistance, and would like to apologise to all our customers for any inconvenience.”
Pick ‘n Pay is offering its employees a 7,9% increase or R310 per month, whichever is the greater. Saccawu is demanding a 12% increase or R400 per month increase, whichever is the greater.
“We are doing everything we can to resolve this impasse,” Summers added.
“We believe that our offer to our employees is good and fair and that our total employment package is one of the best in the country. We will do everything to ensure minimum disruption and will work extremely hard to resolve the problem.” — I-Net Bridge