Fin24 reports that according to the Massmart Group, a secondary strike by the SA Commercial, Catering, and Allied Workers’ Union (Saccawu) at its other subsidiaries over a wage dispute at Makro had no impact on operations, as too few employees were interested in taking part in the industrial action.

Saccawu last month announced plans to go on strike at Makro following an impasse over increasing wages. The union is demanding a 12% wage increase and a 20% increase in sales commissions paid to employees. In an effort to ramp up pressure on Massmart, Saccawu last week announced a secondary strike by its members at six other Massmart Group companies, although these groups had already concluded their own wage negotiations. After arbitration aimed at breaking the deadlock failed, Saccawu kicked off the industrial action on Thursday. While the union planned to have 15,000 workers stop work at Game, Builders Warehouse, Rhino, Fruitspot, Shield and Jumbo stores, Massmart said there was "almost zero interest in the secondary strike". According to Massmart’s Brian Leroni, only 193 employees from across the group joined the Makro strike. He added that, with the exception of Makro employees, wage talks had been settled with Saccawu at the group's other subsidiaries at an average 4.5% increase. Saccawu’s Sithembele Tshwete said 80% of the union's members at Makro and 60% of its members at other Massmart Group companies were on strike. The strike did not have 100% attendance from members as some were already on leave, he stated.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page