Maravi

Shoprite workers down tools

Shoprite workers down tools
Written by Ernest Chanda, Christopher Miti and Edwin Mbulo
Saturday, July 25, 2009 7:32:20 PM

SHOPRITE workers at Lusaka Manda Hill branch yesterday protested over low salaries and poor conditions of service. And Shoprite workers in Chipata have also joined in the strike, pressing for better conditions of service and a salary increment.

But Shoprite (Zambia) deputy general manager Charles Bota said management was still negotiating with the union. The workers who sang songs of solidarity outside their offices also complained that management was running away from salary negotiations.

And some officials from the National Union of Commercial and Industrial Workers (NUCIW) who sought anonymity said management had gone outside the workers’ demands. One union official said management were supposed to have continued with negotiations on salary increments, but instead brought in issues to do with an insurance scheme.

“As Shoprite workers we are not happy with what is happening. We have been having negotiations on salary increments with management and on Wednesday this week we declared a dispute with them because they couldn't give us what we had asked for. We had asked for a K235, 000 salary increment across the board, but management was proposing K130 000,” the union official said.

“Management later wrote to us, seeking audience with us, but we were surprised that they brought in a different story. Instead of talking about the salary increments, they brought in the issue of a pension scheme.”

The union official said there was serious undervaluing of the pension scheme.

And another union official complained that Shoprite Zambia workers were the least paid in the Shoprite Group of Companies.

“Going by the 0.5 rate they have given us it means that somebody who has worked for 10 years would get a K3,000,000 pension. And this has to be spread across fours, you will not get it as a lump sum. Do we really have labour laws in this country? And do we have a government that looks at the welfare of its people?” said the official.

The workers vowed to continue with the protests until management met their demands.

And according to a letter dated July 21, 2009 sent to the workers and signed by Shoprite Zambia personnel director Callie Burger, the newly introduced pension scheme took effect on July 1, 2009.

“We are pleased to inform you that Shoprite has set up a staff pension scheme to be administered by African Life Financial Services Zambia Limited with effect from 1 July 2009. Membership has been extended to you subject to your unconditional acceptance of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Africa Supermarkets (T/A Shoprite), the National Union of Commercial and Industrial Workers (NUCIW) and Shoprite (Zambia) Managers on 18 June 2008, the full contents of which you have read, understood and accepted,” read the letter in part.

And Bota said he could not further comment on the matter since management was still engaged in negotiations with the union.

“We are still negotiating with management over those issues, so I can't say much,” said Bota.

And Shoprite premises in Chipata were vacant and security guards were placed at the gate to tell the customers that the shop had not yet been opened.

One of the workers said they were getting instructions from their union leaders in Lusaka.

And branch manager Joshua Museba said the workers had refused to work.

“Me I am working but my colleagues are not working, itís like their grievances have not been met so they have refused to work,” said Museba who refused to comment further on the matter.

Meanwhile, Shoprite workers in Livingstone have also downed tools, forcing management to close the shop and Hungry Lion food outlet.

A check at the shop found workers sun basking while others opted to stroll around the tourist capital’s city centre.

“We are not going back for work until they improve our working conditions and salaries. We are being forced to work like slaves, government needs to set a standard whenever they bring in investors...because we should not be treated like we are under an apartheid regime,” said one female worker who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Branch manager Harry Shompa could not comment on the matter as call on his mobile phone was answered by another person.

Labels: CHARLES BOTA, SHOPRITE, STRIKE

posted by MrK @ 6:33 PM