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COSATU stands in solidarity with SACCAWU against Massmart

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) supports its indomitable Affiliate, the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU), as it heads to the Constitutional Court to appeal the Labour Court’s dismissal of its leave to appeal a judgement that went against it in 2024. 

SACCAWU will appear before the apex court on Tuesday to appeal the Labour Court’s judgement refusing it leave to appeal a judgement compelling it to pay damages to the tune of R9.4 million to Massmart. Massmart sued SACCAWU for the exorbitant amount following a strike by members of the union in 2021, which the retailer claimed had turned violent.

Adding insult to injury, Massmart not only sued SACCAWU for damages but also dismissed almost 600 workers for taking part in the legal protected strike. Despite prolonged engagements to reinstate the dismissed workers, the employer remains unmoved.  

Workers went on a protected strike after the union was confronted by the company’s barbaric bargaining tactics where it initially refused to put an opening offer on the table, pleaded poverty, but at the same time insisted that the union lower its demands.

The parties eventually signed a three-year wage agreement in June 2023, after the CCMA intervened and brought the 14-month-old strike to a close. However, the issue of the nearly 600 dismissed workers remains unresolved. SACCAWU has approached the Labour Court to adjudicate on this front and is awaiting a court date.

Central to the dispute is Massmart’s parent company, Walmart’s philosophy and desire to operate in a union-free environment. However, given our country’s past, we cannot exchange one form of oppression for another. Trade unions are an integral role player in South Africa’s economy. Walmart/Massmart must abandon its attempts to break workers’ aspirations for a living wage, collective bargaining and free labour practices.

The Federation stands in solidarity with its Affiliate, SACCAWU, and supports its actions to defend the rights of its members 100%. We will not allow the multinational to trample on the rights of workers.

Issued by COSATU   

Zanele Sabela (National Spokesperson)

Mobile: 079 287 5788 / 077 600 6639

Email: zaneles@cosatu.org.za