The Labour Court on Friday granted retail giant Woolworths an interdict after the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (Saccawu) breached picketing rules.
The court found Saccawu in contempt of court, Woolworths chief operating officer Zyda Rylands said in a statement.
Rylands said the union was ordered by the court to issue a press statement to two national newspapers by Monday calling on striking members to comply with picketing rules.
The court also instructed Saccawu to produce a letter advising its members to observe picketing rules. Woolworths will distribute it to striking employees on behalf of the union, Rylands said.
”We welcome this development. We hope the union turns a new page and commits itself to fair and lawful conduct,” said Rylands.
She said a solution to the dispute has been tabled for the union to consider.
”The proposal allows Saccawu to show the presentation it claims and to verify its members. However, negotiations are continuing,” he said.
On Thursday, hundreds of protesting Woolworths employees stormed through an outlet in Market Street, Johannesburg, and assaulted a truck driver.
Employees are demanding that Woolworths’s management recognise their trade union, Saccawu.
Rylands said the intimidation of non-striking employees would be investigated. — Sapa