Recent media reports of a strike at Pick n Pay were incorrect, the company said on Monday.
”The strike is at a Pick n Pay supplier and does not involve any Pick n Pay workers,” said Tamra Veley, spokesperson for the listed retail giant.
There has been a strike at Costa Logistics — the service provider for Pick n Pay logistics — at the distribution centre at Longmeadow, Gauteng, she said.
A number of striking Costa workers had been arrested for intimidation, public violence and damage to property, Costa Logistics spokesperson Ben van Niekerk said.
”Striking Costa workers had been served a court interdict which laid out picketing rules — which had been ignored,” he said.
Van Niekerk said the parties had been to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration in June to try to resolve issues, but this was unsuccessful.
The union then applied for a certificate to strike, which was granted, he said.
”Costa employees are on a legal strike — however, a court interdict was successfully applied for by Costa Logistics and granted around picketing rules. This was applied for on the basis that intimidation was taking place and strikers were preventing staff and vehicles entering or leaving the premises.”
Van Niekerk said that striking Costa staff did not obey the court order and, on Sunday, staff members who were not on strike were assaulted by the strikers.
”The SAPS [South African Police Service] was called and a number of people were arrested. By last night, 76 staff had been arrested,” Van Niekerk said.
Spokespersons for the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers’ Union were not immediately available for comment. — Sapa