Shoprite/Checkers workers fight for decent income

Shoprite/Checkers workers have demanded that the company raise their basic income. This is after the National Transport Movement (NTM) accused the Shoprite group of paying some of their employees R400 a week.

“We demand R15 000 as basic salary for drivers and R12 000 for all the other workers,” said Ephraim Mphahlele, general secretary of NTM in an interview with Justmoney. 

NTM also demands a provident fund, medical aid, 13^th cheque and 6 months paid maternity leave.

The organisation said it was willing to negotiate with Shoprite/Checkers if the group would cooperate.

According to Mphahlele,  the demands were rejected by the group.

“They are saying that the demands are unreasonable, and we want to sit down and negotiate. We are open to discussion,” he said.

NTM was supposed to have a meeting with the Shoprite/Checkers Group management on Friday, but the group cancelled at the last minute, he added.

Mphahlele said that all the Shoprite/Checkers warehouses were closed on Friday, following a call by the movement and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to shut down all stores in the country

This is not the first time workers of the Shoprite group embarked on a strike this year. In March the workers were demonstrating outside the stores over wage issues.

The Shoprite group was not available for comment. ANA reported on Wednesday that the Shoprite group said that the striking NTM workers were employed by a service provider and not by the group.