The Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration was reluctant to exercise its powers in its dispute with Woolworths, the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers’ Union said on Tuesday.
Addressing the media in Johannesburg, Saccawu deputy general secretary Mduduzi Mbongwe said the union would, for this reason, target both the CCMA and the department of labour in a programme of action.
Saccawu is demanding that the company recognise it as a union, that union officials be granted access to company premises to engage in activities, and for stop-order facilities to deduct union fees from its members.
”These rights are accorded to a sufficiently representative union in terms of chapter three of the Labour Relations Act (LRA).
”The LRA does not specify a percentage for sufficient representivity.”
The present strike was proceeding on a no-work, no-pay basis.
A national day of action is expected to take place on October 3, when protesters will march to the Business Unity South Africa offices in Sandton.
The union called on its members, including those in Woolworths distribution centres, to support the strike. – Sapa