Wage talks at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) between the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (Saccawu) and retailer Pick n Pay have ended in deadlock.
”As a result of this latest development, the CCMA commissioner was compelled to issue a certificate indicating that the matter is unresolved,” the union said in a statement on Wednesday.
Saccawu said it remained committed to seeking an ”amicable agreement” to the dispute.
It also said the company was responsible for the deadlock in talks.
The certificate issued by the CCMA gives Saccawu the right to serve the company with a 48-hour notice to embark on protected industrial action.
In the meantime, Saccawu was ”busy reporting back and mobilising its members for any legal course of action its members decide upon”.
Pick n Pay was offering an increase of R385 across the board while Saccawu was demanding R500, the union said.
While the company wanted a one-year agreement with Saccawu, the union has demanded a three-year wage agreement.
”The company granted management staff a 12% across-the-board increase but rejected the union’s 12%, or R500,” Saccawu said.
Pick n Pay was not able to comment immediately. — Sapa