FOLLOWING South Africa's historic first democratic elections, and in the midst of the euphoria and hopes it has generated, few trade unionists would have believed they would again see police opening fire on strikers with rubber bullets and tear gas, vicious dogs savaging pickets, and workers in their hundreds being bundled into police But little over two months into the "new" South Africa, such scenes have been repeated throughout the country as police brutally weighed in on Pick 'n Pay supermarket chain against workers demanding a news the western media has JOHANNESBURG — The Pick 'n Pay struggle was one of a series of pay strikes which have opened up as workers attempt to bust racist wage Members of the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU) overwhelmingly voted to strike in July in support of a wage increase for all workers at Pick 'n Management offered an increase of R175 (£35) per month which would result in a minimum monthly wage of a The strike eventually ended in a compromise much closer to the company's offer than the union's demand. The role of the police and courts in repressing the Pick 'n Pay supermarkets went on strike on July 12. Hundreds of workers picketed stores. Management admitted that MADAM BYS RICO COSATU picket in Jo'burg half their stores were "adversely afand was granted a court order that prepicketing within 500 metres from a Pick 15,000 members at Pick 'n Pay walked out. Most SACCAWU picketers were unaware of the court order as they peacefully gathered outside supermarkets to prevent scabs taking their jobs and dissuade shoppers from spending moved rapidly to enforce the anti-picketing order on behalf of Pick 'n Pay. At the Norwood store, in Johannesburg, the notorious Internal Security Unit riot police used tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse strikers. dogs. Similar actions occurred in the KwaZulu/Natal. By the end of the day over 800 workers had been arrested. Similar scenes were repeated on July 14. Hundreds of workers were again bullets and dog bites. Police also prevented workers from marching on Pick Pay's head office near JohannesCOSATU president Sam Shilowa joined the 3000 workers. He told the strikers that their struggle was legitimate and that it was their right to strike for a living wage. He condemned the conduct of the police. He called on the ANC ministers of police in the regional FOR BABYSITTING and national governments "to come out and explain what is their position with regard to police entering into the indusweeks that the songs and the sound of dancing feet of striking workers has not resounded through the streets of the Johannesburg and other major centres. Researchers say that in July strikes amounted to 233,000 work days, compared to 63,000 in July last year. The big guns of South Africa's working class movement, the metalworkers and mineworkers, have already joined the The militant mood among workers was clear on a bitterly cold Johannesburg morning on July 25 outside COSATU's Braamfontein offices. Thousands gathered for a protest march to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the infamous John Vorster Square The march, organised by COSATU's PWV region, brought together all those workers in the region engaged in strike action. The crowd listened attentively as representatives from each union or workplace outlined their situation and called for solidarity between those enstanding as each speaker explained the excesses of management were revealed, and laughed loudly as the bosses' stuONS PROBLEM N GETS ALONG WITH HER.. gent were the Pick 'n Pay workers. They were joined by hundreds of workers from Checkers/Shoprite, Gallo Records and a number of other workplaces. The racism of management featured in many of the smaller disputes.
Workers remain incensed at the behaviour of the police in the first week of the Pick 'n Pay strike.
A young Pick 'n Pay worker told the crowd that three workers remained in hospital. "They have been bitten by dogs and one lady has been shot. They said it was a rubber bullet but it was not a rubber bullet. Some of our comrades who were arrested are still in jail. Please stay away from Pick 'n Pay. Don't buy at Pick 'n Pay. Don't buy at Checkers/Shoprite. We need your support."
COSATU assistant general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi addressed the workers before moving off. He rejected claims that workers should not fight for the rights because it would undermine 'investor confidence".
Vavi said workers were demanding a living wage, democratisation of the workplace, and an effective say over how companies are run. "We are not going to accept an argument that says that in order to have investor confidence, in order to create more jobs for our people, workers should tighten their belts, should accept poverty wages, accept racism from the bosses."
The Pick 'n Pay dispute was among thee most significant of a wave of workers' struggles taking place throughout South Africa. Also highly significant was a strike by the National Union of Metalworkers (NUMSA); industrial action is also threatened by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
NUMSA's 26,000 members in the car industry took strike action in support of a 15 per cent wage claim. NUMSA is also demanding a 12 per cent increase in the steel and engineering sector which employs 280,000. Ten thousand metalworkers marched through Johannesburg on July 21.
The 385,000 NUM members are also considering strike action to win a 12 per cent rise. Negotiations collapsed on July 21. The Chamber of Mines has offered 8.5 per cent for gold miners, and 8.5-9 per cent for coal miners. Anglo American has offered 7 per cent. Talks with De Beers also collapsed on July 21 when HERE'S YOUR YOU FORGOT THE GIN AND TONIC. LEMON PEEL.
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