COSATU Today | COSATU Press Statements |
PRINTCOSATU backs Dis-Chem strike and calls on CCMA to convene meeting
The Congress of South African Trade Unions reaffirms its full support for the strike by 2000 SACCAWU members at more than 40 Dis-Chem Pharmacies nationwide, who have been on a protected strike since 27th May.
COSATU agrees with SACCAWU that whilst workers are willing to be flexible and consider reasonable proposals from the employer, Dis-Chem has stubbornly refused to even consider the workers’ demands. This demonstrates the intransigence and arrogance of this company which purports to be a caring employer. The union has followed all legal requirements, and steps followed by the union led to an advisory arbitration award, issued by a CCMA Commissioner, which arrived at the following conclusion:
“Given the above and based on a philosophy that it is normally better to negotiate and fail to agree than to refuse to negotiate at all it is recommended that the respondent agree to recognise the applicant union as a bargaining agent on behalf of its members and that the respondent and the applicant’s union agree that as a prerequisite to substantive bargaining the following negotiation needs to take place
i) Scope of the bargaining unit and verification of union membership;
ii) Balance between the across the board and performance related pay increases;
iii) Timing of the implementation of any future bargaining outcome that represents an increase in the current costs of terms and conditions of employment.”
The Company’s arrogant attitude should be located in the context of ‘Walmartisation’ and the growing anti-union attitude amongst South African retailers. At the centre of the Walmart philosophy is an attempt to ensure that retail companies remain union-free zones.
For some time now, Dis-Chem has consistently discouraged its employees from joining SACCAWU and actively participating in union activities. Earlier last year it had to declare a dispute to compel the company to recognise SACCAWU. Since then the company refused to bargain over wage increases and other terms and conditions of employment for its employees.
SACCAWU once again had to refer a dispute concerning the company’s refusal to bargain to the CCMA. The outcome was an Advisory Arbitration Award which vindicated the union by saying the company should negotiate with them. When the company refused to adhere to the advisory award, the CCMA granted a certificate which allows members the right to embark on a protected strike to press for their demands.
The strike has now been dragging for eight weeks, however, with no sign of the company demonstrating any willingness to come to the table for negotiation. The union has tried to get the company to the table for negotiations and resolve the dispute. It has invoked Section 150 of the Labour Relations Act, through the CCMA, but all these efforts have yielded no positive results so far. SACCAWU have been advised that Company Directors are out of the country. It is strange that they should prioritise international trips over resolving the current dispute.
Meanwhile workers have been harassed by some store managers, mall managers and Metro and SAPS Police. Some workers were even assaulted on the picket-line by a store manager in Pretoria. This harassment of striking workers on the picket-line is a further attempt to provoke workers and turn the public opinion against the strike instead of negotiating with SACCAWU on issues placed on the table by the workers.
Yet workers remain united and determined to continue with the strike until an amicable settlement is found through mutual agreement. The union assures us that it remains open to exploring a mutually beneficial settlement of the current strike and dispute.
COSATU therefore calls upon the CCMA urgently to convene a meeting of the parties to facilitate a solution to the strike.
Otherwise, if management maintain its intransigent stance, SACCAWU insist that they will be compelled to intensify the current strike and they can be sure that COSATU members will give full support to any such action they decide to take.
Patrick Craven (National Spokesperson)
Congress of South African Trade Unions
1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets
Braamfontein, 2017
P.O. Box 1019
Johannesburg, 2000
SOUTH AFRICA
Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24
Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940/ 086 603 9667
Cell: 0828217456
E-Mail: patrick@cosatu.org.za
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