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UNI Commerce Solidarity Statement

STRIKING SOUTH AFRICAN WORKERS AT PICK N PAY RETAILERS ORGANISED UNDER THE BANNER OF SACCAWU

We, the delegates representing 20 million members and 900 affiliated Unions, gathered at this UNI Global Union World Congress wish to convey our message of solidarity with more than 27 000 SACCAWU members who have been on a protected and legitimate strike arising out of an unresolved protracted wage dispute concerning the following matters:

1. A demand for an across the board increase of R 550-00 per month or 12% whichever works out greater;

2. A guaranteed minimum of 120 hours per month for variable (part-time) workers,

3. A Staff discount of 10% on basic food stuffs;

4. A one year agreement as opposed to a three year agreement that the employer seeks to oppose.



We have noted that the current strike takes place in the context of a global economic crisis where employers are shifting the burden of the crises to the shoulders of workers and the poor, through retrenchments, unilateral restructuring and other methods aimed at maximizing profits at the expense of workers. We have further noted that South African Retailers, led by Pick n Pay Retailers, have gone on an anti-worker and anti-union offensive since 2007 in anticipation of the Walmart entry into the South African and African Continent. In this sense the struggle of Pick n Pay workers is a struggle against the anti-worker Walmart philosophy which has caused serious miseries and hardships for millions of workers and their families throughout the world.



We have noted that Pick n Pay Retailers has introduced the main tenets of the Walmart philosophy even before Walmart’s entry into the South African market. We have specifically noted that the employer has dragged out the current wage dispute for almost 12 months, an action which has already eroded these workers income and working conditions. We have further noted that the Employer is currently using shopping mall owners to effectively deny striking workers their right to picket in support of their strike. This is coupled with and compounded by open collaboration and brutality by yet to be transformed South African Police force, from the legacy of equally institutionalized racist system; Apartheid.



In this context we pledge our unwavering support and solidarity with striking Pick n Pay workers, in line with the international battle cry of the labour movement ‘AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL’; since their fight is for a just cause, as it advances the decent work agenda which is aimed at ensuring that workers work and live under conditions of dignity.



We further call upon Senior Management of Pick n Pay Retailers to meet reasonable demands of Pick n Pay workers organised under the banner of our South African Affiliate, SACCAWU, as their demands are fair, reasonable and justified.



We further vow to do everything within our power, including mobilizing blacking action (refusal to handle, deliver, pack and transport goods and products) against Pick n Pay and its’ subsidiaries in various parts of the globe, in support of the strike until workers reasonable, fair and just demands are met.