Pick n Pay boss 'must apologise'

Johannesburg - Thousands of Pick n Pay workers protesting against alleged racism in the company handed over a memorandum of grievances at its head office in Kensington, Johannesburg, on Friday.

The protesters gave management 48-hours to respond to their demands.

They complained about over-representation of whites in senior positions, claiming that blacks were marginalised.

"There is racial discrimination in extension of employment contracts as well. White employees' contracts are extended while those of blacks are not," said South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers' Union (Saccawu) deputy secretary general Mduduzi Mbongwe.

He said there was also a refusal by senior management to act against white managers found guilty of racist practices in the workplace.

The workers alleged that Pick n Pay South Africa group chief executive officer Nick Badminton was being racist when he said: "It takes long for black people to develop".

"We want him to withdraw his statements and apologise in public for having said this about workers," said Mbongwe.

The protesters charged that there was racism even in the way senior managers were deployed.

The union said it had raised the issues with company mid-2008, but that it only responded in June this year when it said it would hold a commission of inquiry.

"We don't want a commission of inquiry. We want an answer to each and every question we sent to them," Mbongwe said.

Saccawu demands that Pick n Pay enter into a "meaningful" engagement with it over a programme to transform the company. It also wants an end to all racist practices.

Wearing red union T-shirts and caps the protesters sang struggle songs, blew vuvuzelas and wielded placards reading: "White colleagues use their own canteen and toilets. This is a virus. No to racism"; "My colour is skin deep, I can't remove it"; "Only one black director out of 34 000 employees"; and "Stop racism within the workplace".

They handed over their memorandum of grievances to management just before 14:00.

Pick n Pay South Africa's group human resource director Isaac Motaung received the memorandum.

"Thank you very much for coming. It is important to give the company an opportunity to respond to these grievances comprehensively. You will hear from us within the specified time," he said.

Workers dispersed after the protest. The union said they would be back at work on Saturday as they waited for the company's response.

- Sapa