Three months after Massmart was named a top employer in South Africa by the Top Employers Institute, workers affiliated with the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu) strongly disagreed and announced a 10-day strike at local Makro stores.
Makro strike
After winning the award this year, Massmart’s chief people officer Chwayita Mareka said Massmart was driven to make the company an employer of choice where their employees feel valued.
ALSO READ: Makro boycott underway: Workers’ strike for wage increases
At the Woodmead Makro, heavily armed security guards with bulletproof vests monitored the parking lot where it seemed to be business as usual as consumers went about their shopping. However, the store manager denied Saturday Citizen access to the shop and the parking lot, saying the media was not allowed on the premises.
While it was business as usual at Meadowdale, Woodmead and Centurion, Makro’s union workers met at the Silverlakes Makro where they handed over a memorandum of demands.
Wage demands
The trade union demanded a R900, or 12%, across-the-board pay increase, a monthly minimum wage of R8 000, a 13th cheque to be made separate from their December salary and a uniform allowance of R100.
Massmart senior vice-president: group corporate affairs Brian Leroni said the majority of the planned marches did not materialise.
“Our stores continue to trade normally. We estimate that 50% of union members did not report to work. Of which around 20% of the 50% are actively picketing with the remainder staying at home,” he said.
Leroni said they anticipated Makro stores will continue to operate without interruption.
Saccawu rejects Massmart’s claims
Leroni said they had no intention of amending the wage offer. Saccawu spokesperson Sithembele Tshwete dismissed Massmart’s claims.
“Just look at the support of the marches that are currently underway. Let them dream on,” he said.
Economist Dawie Roodt warned if people made unrealistic salary demands, they could end up losing their jobs.
“A 12% increase is excessive because the inflation rate is currently seven percent.
“If you ask for 12% plus commission, it sounds like an unrealistic request,” he said.
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