Recently 8 cashiers were dismissed by Shoprite at their Pelican Park store. The workers were accused of theft after accepting tips from customers. Even though there was no money missing from their tills and tips have been allowed for several years, the Shoprite manager, Mr Bardien, handcuffed the workers (all women) and called the SAPS to arrest them. They were handcuffed standing for four hours and while using the toilet as if they were common criminals. One worker was pregnant. They were then taken in full view of the public in an SAPS van, charged and are appearing in court for theft of company money for amounts ranging from R20–R30. This was their money that they got from customers as tips.
Shoprite’s Low Wages and bad working conditions
Shoprite employs most of their cashiers and packers on a casual basis at very low wages of R2,400 per month or less than R100 per day – the lowest of all the supermarket chains. Many of them work for several years as casuals and have no hope of becoming “permanent”. The workers are also treated badly, often forced to work overtime and the company does not provide transport home. Most workers are females, who have to risk their lives every day to and from work.
On the other hand Shoprite bosses like Christo Wiese and Whitey Basson are billionaires by exploiting their workers and treating them like slaves. Whitey Basson who was the previous CEO of Shoprite used to earn over R100-million every year. In 2016 Shoprite’s top managers together earned R130-million in bonuses.
Shoprite-Checkers is abusing its workers all over Southern Africa as well, like Namibia, Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique.
JOIN US TO DEMAND:
- The dropping of all charges against the 8 workers
- The immediate reinstatement of all workers with full back-pay
- A public apology by Shoprite-Checkers and Pelican Park store manager Mr Bardien
- Mr Bardien to be dismissed
- Compensation for wrongful arrest, suffering and violation of dignity of the Shoprite 8
We demand decent work for all at a living wage and job security. End casualization of work!
We call on all Shoprite and other retail workers to support the Shoprite 8 and their demands. The bosses in the retail sector are pressuring workers to make more profits. Pick n Pay is already replacing cashiers with machines.
WE CALL ON THE COMMUNITY TO BOYCOTT SHOPRITE PELICAN PARK!
JOIN THE PROTESTS on FRIDAY 20 OCTOBER
at WYNBERG COURT 08.30a.m.
at SHOPRITE PELICAN PARK at 2p.m.
Pamphlet produced and distributed by the Shoprite 8 Support Committee
