Makro strike: Saccawu accused of ‘negotiating in bad faith’

Thousands of Makro employees embarked on a nationwide strike on Wednesday after ongoing wage disputes couldn’t be resolved.

Employees affiliated with the South African Commercial, Catering, and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu) now demand results, after four months of wage negotiations.

Makro strike update

Wage negotiations

The workers say they demand a 12% wage increase, and the union rejected Makro’s counteroffer of 4.5%, saying it “will not sustain workers”.

Saccawu spokesperson Sithembele Tshwete said employees and their families would struggle to meet “even the basic household needs” with a 4.5% increase.

“This attitude by the company despite rising inflation, transport and energy costs. The company resolves to remain intransigent.”

Makro said the “12% wage increase and increasing sales commission from 10% to 20% both of which are intuitively unrealistic”.

Negotiating ‘in bad faith’

Saccawu said more than 5 000 Makro employees would join the strike.

Makro said in a statement to The Citizen: “We can confirm that Makro was advised on 24 October of Saccawu’s intention to embark on a three-day strike at our stores.

“It should be noted that this decision has been taken unilaterally by the union in the absence of their conducting strike ballots across the Makro store base.

“This approach is consistent with our impression that the union has been negotiating in bad faith.”

Staff didn’t want to strike

According to Makro, strike ballots had reportedly been conducted at six stores on Monday, 24 October, and three stores “voted against strike action”.

As per Makro’s statement: “At one particular store, just 7% of staff voted to strike.”

Makro said all stores are operating, despite the strike, and no disruption to normal store trading activity is anticipated.

“Makro has implemented strike contingency plans, which include deploying temporary employees who have been trained in our store processes.”

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Makro employee demands

• Across-the-board increase of R900 or 12% whichever is the greater
• Minimum wage R8 000
• An improvement of commission from 10% on margin to 20% margin for salespeople
• Increase in category 3 working hours from 160 to 195 per month
• 13th cheque to be made separate from the December salary
• Uniform allowance R100
• Moratorium on retrenchments for the duration of the agreement