Shoprite Checkers workers embark on a three-day strike
On the morning of Thursday, 28 March, employees of the Horizon View Village branch of Checkers downed tools to embark on a three-day country-wide strike.
Philip van der Merwe of Shoprite Checkers Properties Division has informed all shops, landlords and property owners about the strike.
The letter stated that the South African Commercial‚ Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu) has served Shoprite Checkers with 48-hours formal notice of a limited-duration, country-wide protected strike.
The strike commenced at 5am on 28 March and will continue until 5am on 30 March.“At this stage it is difficult to determine the extent of the strike and what impact it will have on trading at our stores,” said Van der Merwe.
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“Shoprite Checkers trust that the Saccawu members will at all times abide by the relevant picketing rules; however I advise that the lessor or owner of the property take all necessary measures to safeguard the property, staff and customers” he said.
The Record went to Horizon View Village to find out what the main concerns were of the Checkers employees.
Muzi Katikati, who works in the non-food department said, “We are working long and hard hours but the pay is very little. I earn only R500 per week and I cannot support my family with so little money.”
Puleng Sehume who works in the bakery said, “I work night shift and also Sundays, but my wages are the same as those of the day workers. Checkers is robbing me of my hard-earned money.”
Nomathemba Koti who works at the Kiosk said, “The managers are not fair towards their employees; they gave me a final written warning for doing what my job description stipulates. They gave me this final written warning without following the right procedure of giving me a verbal warning before the final written warning.”
Gary Jordaan from BCI Security said, “Checkers in Allen’s Nek have locked customer and staff inside the store to protect them against the violent protests right outside the store”.
“Shoprite Checkers and Saccawu are both committed to exploring an amicable solution to this situation, and we are hopeful that the strike as planned will indeed be called off,” said Van der Merwe.
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