On Saturday morning union members working at Wimpy restaurant in Pepper Grove Mall went on strike.
On Saturday morning union members working at Wimpy restaurant in Pepper Grove Mall went on strike.
Blowing vuvuzelas and singing, strikers greeted shoppers at the mall with printed placards declaring that “Wimpy is hell on earth. Ask me I know”. There was also a single hand-written placard that read, “Scab labour will never enter heaven”.
Wimpy appeared to be operating as usual with only two additional Hi-tec security guards at the front door indicating that anything might be amiss. The strike action did not seem to be having any impact on business as the restaurant was almost full to capacity when Grocott’s Mail visited the establishment. Des Westcott, owner of the branch for the past ten years, said that 14 staff members had gone on strike in the morning and that he was following procedure to institute a lock-out.
Twelve of the strikers belong to the SA Commercial Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (Saccawu) and the other two are members of the Associated Trade Union of South African Workers (ATUSAW) . He said that some workers intended to return to work yesterday, but that he would maintain the lock-out as long as necessary. He said that he is quite willing to negotiate but it will be done on his terms. In order to carry on business as usual, Westcott called in his regular casual staffers, relied on workers who were training to open a new Wimpy in Port Elizabeth and temporarily employed trainers from Johannesburg to help out.
Westcott believes that Saccawu selected this past weekend for their strike action because they know that it is one of the busiest periods of the year as Kingswood and Graeme College play against each other in a number of well-attended sporting events that attract visitors from all around the country. This he said “is fantastic for business”.
The strikers have demanded a R600 across the board increase, an amount equivalent to a 32% increase in the current wages. This figure is way above the 11% agreed upon in terms of the government sectoral determination.
While writing slogans on placards outside the mall, Saccawu representative, Brian Kolweni, said that Wimpy management was offering R200 across the board while the union was demanding R300. “Actually they are offering nothing – they want to pay the workers according to the government sectoral determination.”
Kolweni went on to say that there was deadlock in the wage negotiations, but that there were other issues in the dispute as well. He said union members were not happy with the way they are treated. They objected to the “arrogant attitude of the management” because they were “treating workers like slaves”.
Westcott rejects these allegations saying that the Labour Department was very happy with his business “because we follow the Labour Relations Act to the t.” He insists that he has always looked after his staff – he gives them meals and has always given them “correct increases” ,bonuses and other benefits. When any of his staff members has a baby, his wife visits them and takes clothes for the baby to the hospital. Westcott believes that the strike is the doing of union representaitve, Brian Kolweni who appears to have “some kind of hold on the staff”.
Westcott said when Dolly Pama, the shop steward from Saccawu presented him with a formal notice to go on a protected strike in 48 hours he tried to explain to her the possible losses that staff members could suffer. He said “I want you to understand the consequences of what Brian Kolweni is doing to you. And she laughed in my face.”
Westcott said he is happy to listen to staff concerns and he proposed the establishment of a forum where staffing concerns could be discussed. He says that his workers never have to stay on duty beyond 8 or 9pm and then he pays for a taxi to drop them off at their homes.
