'Only a miracle' can prevent retail strike

SACCAWU said industrial action would kick off on 24 July with mass protest marches in various parts of the country.

"While SACCAWU endeavoured to seek an amicable solution to the dispute, Massmart management on the other hand have displayed nothing but intransigence and harassment of our members in all its subsidiaries, including those not affected by the dispute," the union said.

"This intimidation by management and ongoing hostility towards the SACCAWU members have not at all our derailed our preparations for this industrial action, in fact it had redoubled the determination of workers to ensure that all trading will come to a standstill at all Makro, Game and Dion outlets.

We are satisfied with levels of mobilisation and readiness for such action amongst members," it added.

SACCAWU's dispute with Makro concerns failure to reach agreement over wages and other conditions of employment, and it is in dispute over three issues at Massdiscounters, including unilateral changes to terms and conditions of employment due to the imposition of the biometrics technology in the company and consequent unlawful lock-out scores of SACCAWU members; the failure by parties to reach agreement on amendments to the Relationship Agreement; and wages and conditions of employment.

"We are concerned about the about subtle and systematic pattern of union bashing by Massmart subsidiaries including at Builders Warehouse, Browns Weirs Cash 'n Carry and Jumbo Cash 'n Carry. Such union bashing mentality finds expression in unilateralism, the blatant refusal to enter into Agency Shop Agreements as well as victimisation of shop stewards.

"This attitude by management while far from taking us towards resolving the dispute only worsens matters and is not in the interests of either party," SACCAWU said.

The union said it had solicited Cosatu's support, along with support from other progressive formations.

Other forms of industrial action will include mass rolling action ranging from pickets and mobilisation for boycotts to be followed by a full-blown strike if the company refuses to concede to the demands of the workers, SACCAWU concluded.

A Massmart spokesperson was not available for comment.

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