Clicks and the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (Saccawu) on Wednesday settled their wage dispute, the retail store said.
”The wage dispute between retail chain Clicks and … Saccawu has been settled,” the company said in a statement.
The settlement ended a 13-day strike, which was called off immediately on Wednesday, at Clicks’ 290 stores in South Africa.
”The settlement has been structured over an 11-month period, with staff receiving a wage increase of R254 per month from August to December 2005, and R255 per month from January to June 2006.
”This equates to an annual increase of 9,1% or R233,33 per month over a 12-month period,” the company said.
It said Clicks offered a wage increase of R225 per month to its staff within the bargaining unit, an increase of 8,8%, while the union demanded an 11,7% increase.
Mike Harvey, Clicks’ brand leader, welcomed Wednesday’s settlement.
The striking workers will return to work on Thursday, he said.
The strike’s financial impact will be disclosed when the financial results of New Clicks Holdings, Clicks’ holding company, are released next Wednesday, Harvey said. — Sapa