MAKRO EMPLOYEES UP IN ARMS OVER WAGES
Written by: Venal Naidu
A portion of Makro Springfield employees are still left frustrated as their employer has not met their demands as the strike reaches its 10th day.
Hundreds of Makro employees over 20 stores across the country started protesting on the 22nd of September over wages and working conditions of employment.
Coordinator for the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU) in KwaZulu-Natal, Collin Naidoo, said that the problem started in April this year when wage increases were due.
“The wage increases which were due from the 1st of April 2017 has caused this unrest , what has happened is that the wage increase this year was set for 7.5% without any monitory offer,” said Naidoo.
Naidoo added that the issue is that the labour brokers are now mostly employed under the employee party Makro.
“The labour brokers have been converted by the employee party under the employee of Makro and most of these labour brokers that are now employees of Makro have been converted under a minimum of 130 hours a month, which in that effect means that these workers will earn R2436 a month,” explained Naidoo.
Naidoo said that that the second part of the dispute is because the wage increase will equate to half of those of previous years.
“Given the previous settlements of 2015 and 2016 where settlements were R580 and R600 respectively the 7,5% on a minimum wage of R5000 equates to something like R320 which means that offer from the company is half,” Naidoo said.
He said that this is the reason the workers have decided to embark on this legal and protected strike until such time when the employee party is going to be able to exceed to the demands of the workers.
SACCAWU is demanding a minimum wage of R6000 and adequate hours for the employees as they argue that given that Makro made profits of R1, 2billion in 2016 they want higher wage increases their employees.
Makro Springfield management officers were unavailable for comment.
*Caption: Makro Springfield employees protest for wage increases at the car park of Makro Springfield.
