Racism: Pick n Pay fights back

Johannesburg - As a nationwide strike looms, Supermarket group Pick n Pay has fought back against claims of racist practices by unionised workers.

Members of the Cosatu-affiliated South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu) on Monday announced plans of industrial action to highlight alleged racial problems in the retail giant.

Saccawu alleged that Pick n Pay preferred white people in supervisory and managerial positions and that while the job titles of black people change, their roles remained largely the same.

The union also complained about salary disparities between white and black employees as well inconsistency in Pick n Pay's application of discipline, with a bias against black employees and Saccawu members.

Saccawu said Pick n Pay had obtained a court interdict after its threats of strike action.

Earlier on Tuesday, the union attempted to have the interdict overturned in the Johannesburg Labour Court, Sapa reports.

The matter, however, was postponed until Wednesday.

Independent inquiry rejected

In a statement, Pick n Pay spokesperson Tamra Veley said the group has consistently rejected Saccawu's claims as factually incorrect, saying that some of the allegations refer back to statements Saccawu says were allegedly made as long as 10 years ago.

On Monday, Saccawu alleged that Pick n Pay CEO Nick Badminton made "racial comments" against black employees.

"Saccawu will not tell us why, if these statements were in fact made, it has taken over a decade to raise [them] with us. We reject their allegations outright," said Veley.

"We believe these allegations are a disgrace, without any foundation and are in any event completely contrary to the company's value system and what it has stood for, for over four decades."

Veley said Pick n Pay had on four separate occasions attempted to address the concerns by suggesting an independent inquiry, but Saccawu has rejected that.

Saccawu's Brenita Cloete said the union's anger had been prompted by Pick n Pay's inability to address grievances which were first raised about two years ago.

She said Pick n Pay's response so far has only been a commitment that the group would not tolerate racism in its ranks.

She rubbished as "nonsense" the group's claims that Saccawu's allegations were baseless.

Cloete told Fin24.com that Saccawu has organised a national march to be held on Friday, at which they will deliver a list of demands to Pick n Pay management. If the demands are not met, industrial action will follow.

She expected over 17 000 Pick n Pay workers to participate in the march on Friday.

- Fin24.com