Woolworths workers will continue picketing on Friday while the retailer considers a counter-proposal submitted by the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (Saccawu) over the verification of how many workers belong to the union.
”Our members will be picketing peacefully at various Woolworths stores. We have spoken to our members to resist violence,” said Saccawu spokesperson Thabo Mahlangu.
According to police, hundreds of protesting Woolworths employees, who were supposed to be at different posts, stormed through an outlet in Johannesburg’s CBD on Thursday, intimidating employees and assaulting a truck driver.
”We believe the general public who arrived to show support for the employees may have been responsible for the incident. Most employees were at the meeting at City Hall at the time,” said Mahlangu.
However, he said the necessary steps would be taken if it was discovered that their members were involved.
Woolworths and Saccawu have been in a dispute for weeks over the union’s right to represent workers at the retailer. The company has claimed that only 15% of its workforce were Saccawu members, which it said was not enough.
Mahlangu said they were waiting for Woolworths to respond to their counter-proposal over some issues on the verification process.
”We agree to management’s verification conditions but disagree with only one issue, that an external auditor will be brought it to interrogate their members.”
Woolworths was not immediately available for comment. — Sapa