The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) resolutely supports its affiliate, the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU), as it heads to the Labour Court today, to seek an urgent interdict to halt Pick n Pay’s planned retrenchment of approximately 22 000 workers.

The matter will be heard virtually at 10am today, 22 July.

SACCAWU approached the Labour Court after it made every effort to engage Pick n Pay to stop the retrenchments. Despite commitments to engage meaningfully following the intervention by Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, Pick n Pay insists on continuing with the retrenchments that will devastate the livelihoods of thousands of workers and their families.

From the start, SACCAWU made it clear that it would not allow the retailer to rollback workers conditions of employment won over decades of collective bargaining. The union remains steadfast in defending workers against attempts to erode guaranteed working hours, take away their 13th cheque, do away with Sunday premiums, withdraw transport for late-shift workers and cancel longstanding collective agreements.

COSATU believes the Labour Court application is necessary to protect workers’ hard-won rights and uphold collective bargaining. Pick n Pay should not be allowed to use the threat of retrenchment to force workers to accept inferior conditions of employment. At a time when South Africa’s unemployment rate is staggering at 43.7%, we cannot afford to send another 22 000 workers to the unemployment line.

COSATU stands 100% behind SACCAWU as it takes this battle to court. The Federation calls on Pick n Pay to engage SACCAWU in good faith and work towards a solution that safeguards jobs while addressing the company’s operational challenges. Workers must not be made to sacrifice their livelihoods at the altar of restructuring the retailer.

Issued by COSATU

Zanele Sabela (COSATU Spokesperson)

Mobile: 079 287 5788 / 077 600 6639

Email: zaneles@cosatu.org.za