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Saccawu members will continue striking at Woolworths, the union said.
“Workers unanimously resolved to continue with the strike until a satisfactory response from the company,” the SA Commercial Catering and Allied Workers Union said in a statement.
It added that a notice of extension had been served on the company indicating the continuation of labour action. “This means that the strike action will continue as legally protected strike action,” Saccawu said.
Woolworths confirmed that it had received the notice of extension.
Saccawu said its members had expressed concern about “problems with store managers who, without respite, continue in their attempts to frustrate and intimidate striking workers”.
The union added that it had decided to legally challenge the picketing rules because of the impracticability of and the infringement on striking workers’ rights to picket.
Strikers had also experienced “serious problems” with property owners, mall managers, mall security and the police, the union said.
“A series of applications for interdicts by mall owners and managers against striking workers has gone to court in attempts to break the strike, some have been thrown out of court while others are still being challenged.”
Saccawu said it was clear that mall owners were coming out in support of Woolworths and workers believed “there might even be collusion”. The union was engaging “international allies” to put pressure on Woolworths, particularly in Australia, where the retailer had expanded over the last few years.
Saccawu said it still maintained that Woolworths was “trying to assert a union-free workplace”. This was something that neither it nor or any trade union in the country would ever tolerate. “Our demands remain the recognition of Saccawu, negotiation of a relationship agreement, access to company premises for union officials to engage in union activities as well as stop order facilities [for union fees to be deducted from salaries].”
Business Times
September 23, 2008