GroundUp reports that a five-week strike by workers who produce baked goods for Pick n Pay appeared to have come to an end on Monday.
The workers concluded reconciliation talks with management, thereby resolving a strike that had been ongoing since 28 February. The strike, which became protected on 2 March, began in protest at unfair working conditions, including long working hours, salary disputes, and unpaid overtime. The outcome of the talks resulted in Assist Bakeries committing to pay all employees at least R3,500 a month and ensuring that the weekly work roster did not include any shifts that exceeded eight hours. The company will also begin contributing to employees’ provident funds. The 58 workers involved in the strike are all employed at a facility housing independent bakery operations located in Isando on the East Rand. David North, Group Executive of Strategy and Corporate Affairs at Pick n Pay, said that the issue had been a wage dispute between independent bakeries and their employees.
- Read this report by Trevor Bohatch and Natalie Pertsovsky in full at GroundUp
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page