Cosatu is calling for the boycott of Makro stores after the dismissal of over 200 workers affiliated to South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU) for participating in an “illegal strike”.
Cosatu’s First Deputy President, Michael Shingange, ANC deputy President Paul Mashatile and SACP lTreasurer, Joyce Moloi- Moropa addressed workers at May Day commemoration in Atteridgeville, Tshwane on Monday and this is where the federation called for the boycott of the retail stores.
“If there is one thing that as a federation we are proud of even during apartheid is having led a consumer boycott successfully against capitalist during the 80s and early 90s. In the past 29 years of our democracy, one defined campaign we have led as Cosatu was the campaign against e-tolls. We ensured that most South Africans defy that issue of e-tolls.
“We want to say we will disrupt Makro. We will boycott Makro. We will physically make Makro unworkable. This, comrades, will not only take place with us going to join SACCAWU on the picket lines. It must take place with us mobilising society to understand that they must not buy at Makro,” he added.
SACCAWU members are demanding:
- An across the board increase of R900 or 12%
- A minimum wage of R8 000.00.
- An improvement of their commission from a 10% on margin to a 20% margin for sales persons
- An increase of working hours from 160 to 195 per month for category 3 workers
- A 13th cheque paid separately from the December salary
- A uniform allowance of R100 and
- A moratorium on retrenchments for the duration of the agreement
Mashatile spoke about load shedding and promised that the government will implement its plan to end loadshedding in the coming months.
“The NEC said there is a problem in this country and we need to come up with a plan. You will know that the President has already appointed the Minister of Electricity. But we have come up with a plan to ensure that in the coming months we can resolve the problem of energy in our country, particularly to end load-shedding. We know that when there is load shedding the workers are most affected,” said Mashatile.
