Tshwane workers demand job security on International Day for Decent Work

Workers affiliated with the Cosatu in Tshwane took to the streets to mark the International Day for Decent Work by demonstrating outside the Department of Labour head office against unfair labour practices in both the government and private sectors.

Gauteng Cosatu deputy chairperson Mogomotsi Seleke joined demonstrations to push for workers' rights and policy changes that benefit the working class. 

He emphasised that the day provides an opportunity for workers to unite and demand accountability, particularly regarding decent work and fair labour practices. 

Workers also targeted Shoprite and Pick n Pay supermarkets in the inner-city, where they delivered a memorandum of demands for better wages and fair working conditions.

Seleke expressed concerns over Shoprite's dismissal practices, citing cases where many workers were let go due to minor infractions, including discrepancies in till transactions.

“People make mistakes and you can’t dismiss people based on the first offence because they are bound to make mistakes,” he said.

Cosatu highlighted the struggles of casual workers employed by both Shoprite and Pick n Pay supermarkets, demanding permanent positions for these workers.

Seleke stated that casual workers are often only called in to work during peak periods, such as month-end or paydays. 

This practice, he said, creates uncertainty and instability for casual workers, who may experience fluctuations in their income and working hours.

“So, you can't say you are working while you are not earning enough. They are basically not working,” he said.

Seleke expressed concern over the retrenchment of Pick n Pay workers, appealing to the company to consider the employees who are breadwinners for their families.

Representatives from Shoprite and Pick n Pay, acknowledged the receipt of the memorandum and promised to respond within the stipulated timeframe. 

However, they did not directly address the issues raised by the workers, which included concerns over unfair labour practices, low wages, and poor working conditions.

Cosatu also demanded the immediate reinstatement of municipal workers previously dismissed by the City of Tshwane for participating in a violent march.

Seleke said the march was also about highlighting the South African Municipal Workers Union’s (Samwu) dispute over salary increases of 3.5% for 2021 and 5.4% for 2023, which were agreed upon in a collective bargaining agreement with Tshwane.

Despite the agreement, the city applied for exemptions, citing financial constraints, and is currently contesting the matter in the Labour Court.

Recently the city council came under fire from Samwu for approving a 5% salary increase for councillors, while city workers have been waiting for their own salary adjustments. 

Seleke accused Tshwane of reneging on the wage agreement, saying that this issue remains a major point of contention among workers to this day.

Two months ago, during Samwu's march, Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise stated that the City of Tshwane proposed a phased payment approach for the 3.5% salary increase. Samwu has, however, rejected the proposal.

The union federation called on the Department of Labour to take a more active role in monitoring occupational health and safety (OHS) across various organisations in South Africa. 

The demand emanates from concerns that occupational health issues have been neglected, putting workers' well-being at risk.

Seleke said: “Many employers are not complying with issues of OHS and also the standard set out by the department but nothing is happening to those particular employers. So, we want the Department of Labour to do something about it.”

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za