COSATU supports the strike action by SACCAWU members at Massmart Group 

 19 November 2021 

 The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) fully supports the strike action by our affiliated union South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU) at the Massmart Group. 

This is a protected strike that starts today Friday, the 19th of November 2021. The declaration of a strike action follows the Massmart Group’s decision to unilaterally restructure and change workers terms and conditions of employment without consultation.  

This includes attempts to impose a 40-hour working week, which includes Sunday work with no premium, as well as reduction of working hours from 195 hours to 120 hours. This unilateral change to terms and conditions of employment also affects Makro, where commission earners have been overburdened with unreasonably high targets.  As a result of this unilateralism, workers will lose a portion of their income at some distribution centres. 

There is also the matter of a wage dispute at Mass build; the Union is demanding an increase of R500 across the board whilst the employer is offering R320 or 4.1%.   

The strike will affect Massmart Group which includes Mass Warehouse (made up of Makro and Fruit spot); Mass build (constituted by Builders Warehouse, Builders Express, Builders Trade Depot and Builders Superstores); Mass cash (consisting of Rhino Cash & Carry, Jumbo Cash & Carry, Cambridge, and various independent Cash & Carry stores.   

 The federation is calling on all South African consumers to support this legitimate struggle for workers in defense of their rights by boycotting Massmart stores effective from Monday the 22nd of November.  

This company is wreaking havoc on the workers and their livelihoods, and its tactics are anti-worker and anti-poor. 

The Federation supports its affiliated union SACCAWU in its pushback campaign against this onslaught directed at workers. We intend to work with them to expand our mobilisation by engaging with other federations and progressive mass-based organisations and civil society structures to fight this onslaught against workers. We also urge all our affiliated unions to offer practical solidarity to SACCWU, as the union embarks on this important programme to defend its members. 

Issued by COSATU 

 
Sizwe Pamla (Cosatu National Spokesperson) 

Tel: 011 339 4911
Fax: 011 339 5080
Cell: 060 975 6794