NewsClick

NewsClick
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Covid-19
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • International
  • Sports
  • Articles
  • Videos
search
menu

INTERACTIVE ELECTION MAPS

image/svg+xml
  • All Articles
  • Newsclick Articles
  • All Videos
  • Newsclick Videos
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • Sports
  • International
  • Africa
  • Latin America
  • Palestine
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
  • US
  • West Asia
About us
Subscribe
Follow us Facebook - Newsclick Twitter - Newsclick RSS - Newsclick
close menu
×
For latest updates on nCOVID-19 around the world visit our INTERACTIVE COVID MAP
Politics

Unions Force Retail Giant to Withdraw Action Against Workers over Strike

Unions in Namibia and South Africa have said the boycott call against Shoprite will continue till it ceases all disciplinary action against its employees
Abhijan Choudhury
08 Aug 2018
South Africa

In a victory for international working class solidarity, the retail giant, Shoprite, in Namibia withdrew its summons to sue 98 workers for N$4.5 million (US$750,000) for embarking on a strike in 2015. The workers were demanding a 20% salary increase and better working conditions.

The company’s decision came after National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) and South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) extended their support to the boycott call given by two prominent trade unions in Namibia against Shoprite’s anti-working class action. Calling for the withdrawal of the summons issued by the company, the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (MANWU) and the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), along with other unions, had issued the boycott call on August 1.

In 2015, Shoprite had submitted in the Windhoek High Court that it had to shut down its stores on July 28th, 2015 and had thus allegedly lost N$ 288,000 (R 28,6200).

NUMSA spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, while reaffirming NUMSA’s solidarity with the Namibian workers, said, “Shoprite is an abusive company whose success depends on the rampant exploitation of labour. They treat workers as slaves and even in South Africa, they have a terrible reputation as an employer.”

The unions have said that the boycott call will continue until Shoprite withdraws all internal disciplinary actions against workers for being part of the strike. 

NUMSA general secretary Irvin Jim issued a statement in which he said, “We urge all our members‚ progressive and middle class individuals‚ and all progressive communities in the country and all unions in the retail sector [and] the working class in general, to stand with our comrades in Namibia and to support this campaign against Shoprite.”

In November 2015, the Namibian High Court had passed an order in favour of Shoprite, instructing the workers to pay for the company’s loss of sales, its legal costs and damages incurred because of the strikes that took place in December 2014 and July 2015.

SAFTU general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi strongly criticised Shoprite for its systematic exploitation of workers. He said the company owed its success to its extremely harsh business practices, such as maintaining a permanent employee strength of only 20%, with the rest being temporary, underpaid workers.

“Some of these workers earn as little as R4500 a month – a complete disgrace when one compares that with what the executives at Shoprite earn,” Vavi added.

Shoprite has been accused of engaging in exploitative treatment and abuse of its workers in several African countries. In 2013,  the Zambian government threatened to revoke the company’s license and shut down its stores in the country after Shoprite fired workers after they went on strike over wage issue. The movie forced the companies to increase workers’ wage by 34%.

Courtesy: Peoples Dispatch
Get the latest reports & analysis with people's perspective on Protests, movements & deep analytical videos, discussions of the current affairs in your Telegram app. Subscribe to NewsClick's Telegram channel & get Real-Time updates on stories, as they get published on our website.
SAFTU
NUMSA
Related Stories
Employees of South African Airport Services Firm Protest Demanding Payment of Salaries

Employees of South African Airport Services Firm Protest Demanding Payment of Salaries

South African Airways

Unions Win Better Terms for South African Airways Workers

South African Finance Minister Tito Mboweni

South African Unions Demand Dismissal of Finance Minister Tito Mboweni Over Airline Liquidation

South African Airways

Unions Accuse Government of Seeking to Destroy South African Airways for the Benefit of Global Capital

Macsteel workers strike against 20% cut in salaries

NUMSA Embarks on Strike at Macsteel Against 20% Cut in Salaries

In addition to PPE kits, the provision of transport for nurses and other essential service workers is another key demand. Photo Reuters

Nurses in South Africa Protest Demanding PPE, Income Tax Breaks and Danger Allowance

Army Brought in to Aid Illegal Evictions in South Africa, Several Left Homeless Amid Lockdown

Army Brought in to Aid Illegal Evictions in South Africa, Several Left Homeless Amid Lockdown

NUMSA allege forced work during COVID-19 lockdown

In South Africa, NUMSA Alleges Forced Work During Lockdown

Unions Take Action Against South African Telekom’s Retrenchment Plan

Unions May Legally Challenge Cancelation of Domestic Routes by South Africa Airways

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share

Related Stories

Pavan Kulkarni

Unions Accuse Government of Seeking to Destroy South African Airways for the Benefit of Global Capital

23 June 2020
South Africa’s Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has been accused by unions of double-dealing, after it came out in support of the business re
Peoples Dispatch

NUMSA Embarks on Strike at Macsteel Against 20% Cut in Salaries

29 May 2020
Workers affiliated to the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) at industrial manufacturer Macsteel embarked on a strike action on
Peoples Dispatch

Nurses in South Africa Protest Demanding PPE, Income Tax Breaks and Danger Allowance

02 May 2020
On behalf of the healthcare workers struggling to make ends meet while treating COVID-19 patients, striking nurses from the Young Nurses Indaba Tra

Pagination

  • Previous page ‹‹
  • Next page ››

More

  • election commission

    Data Security? EC Allows Voters’ List to Used for COVID Vaccination Drive

  • In Significant Victory for Home Buyers, SC Rejects Developer’s Appeal on Excess Sale Area

    In Significant Victory for Home Buyers, SC Rejects Developer’s Appeal on Excess Sale Area

  • COVID-19: AIPSN ‘Shocked’ by Centre Rolling out Covaxin with Covishield, Urges Protocols for Former’s Use

    COVID-19: AIPSN ‘Shocked’ by Centre Rolling out Covaxin with Covishield, Urges Protocols for Former’s Use

  • The contractual loading staff, accompanied by union members, standing outside CWC’s ICD at Patparganj in East Delhi.

    Central Warehousing Corporation Workers Left in Lurch After Contractor Changed, Trade Union to the Rescue

  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with
about