Saccawu launches consumer boycott of Woolies

The latest action forms part of the strike launched nine days ago, which has failed to get responses from the company to the demands of the union.

Mike Abrahams, Saccawu spokesperson, said the boycott would have the backing of its alliance members that include the ANC, ANC Youth League, Cosatu, SA Communist Party and the Youth Communist League.

Abrahams added that the union and its alliance partners would meet again in five days to discuss further national actions that would include a sympathy strike throughout the retail sector.

"We are planning secondary and solidarity strike action throughout the sector over the next seven days to put further pressure on Woolworths and the retail sector as a whole," Abrahams said.

Woolies and Saccawu have been locked in the dispute for months over the union's right to represent its members in workplace related issues such as salaries but the company has claimed that the union did not have enough members to be recognised.

While both are willing to have the membership verified, they disagree on the manner in which the verification process has been undertaken with Saccawu saying the process dilutes its membership representation.

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