Comments on: Fred Withers makes for an interesting read http://espaces.wordpress.com/2007/04/13/fred-withers-makes-for-an-interesting-read/ Just another WordPress.com weblog Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:38:32 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Andrew http://espaces.wordpress.com/2007/04/13/fred-withers-makes-for-an-interesting-read/#comment-90 Andrew Fri, 11 May 2007 13:25:19 +0000 http://espaces.wordpress.com/2007/04/13/fred-withers-makes-for-an-interesting-read/#comment-90 Is that why the people behind the counter look so miserable? Is that why the people behind the counter look so miserable?

]]> By: Editor http://espaces.wordpress.com/2007/04/13/fred-withers-makes-for-an-interesting-read/#comment-5 Editor Wed, 18 Apr 2007 07:29:38 +0000 http://espaces.wordpress.com/2007/04/13/fred-withers-makes-for-an-interesting-read/#comment-5 A comment to the above article was published in the star- Business report on the 17th April 2007 buy Linda Johnson-Writer and Editor: One wonders if Exclusive's Fred Withers is in his casual workers' good books April 17, 2007 Interesting interview with Fred Withers (Business Report, April 13). However, one wonders if he has any inkling of the conditions his staff at the coalface have to endure. Exclusive Books is well known for the convenience of its extended hours, but permanent staff do not work extended hours. Exclusive relies solely, for its extended trading hours, on a workforce of largely casual students. Exclusive demands that casual staff be extremely well read, highly educated people. However, until recently, their rate of pay was R16 an hour. One BA student had to sit through a tough interview with a branch manager, answering questions about literature and books. The pay was R15 an hour. After one year of working at nights, over weekends, Christmas and New Year, the hourly rate was increased to R16! No sick leave or holiday pay. If a casual is unable to make a shift due to death or disaster, he or she must find a replacement. Exclusive Books operates in malls where parking costs money. No safe, free parking for casual staff is offered. The result is that a young female worker must park in surrounding areas, far from the shopping centre, to which he or she has to walk alone late at night, exposed to muggings or rape, in order to save some of the pittance earned while providing the impeccable service Fred Withers demands of his staff. Linda Johnston Writer and editor A comment to the above article was published in the star- Business report on the 17th April 2007 buy Linda Johnson-Writer and Editor:

One wonders if Exclusive’s Fred Withers is in his casual workers’ good books

April 17, 2007

Interesting interview with Fred Withers (Business Report, April 13). However, one wonders if he has any inkling of the conditions his staff at the coalface have to endure.

Exclusive Books is well known for the convenience of its extended hours, but permanent staff do not work extended hours. Exclusive relies solely, for its extended trading hours, on a workforce of largely casual students.

Exclusive demands that casual staff be extremely well read, highly educated people. However, until recently, their rate of pay was R16 an hour. One BA student had to sit through a tough interview with a branch manager, answering questions about literature and books. The pay was R15 an hour.

After one year of working at nights, over weekends, Christmas and New Year, the hourly rate was increased to R16! No sick leave or holiday pay. If a casual is unable to make a shift due to death or disaster, he or she must find a replacement.

Exclusive Books operates in malls where parking costs money. No safe, free parking for casual staff is offered. The result is that a young female worker must park in surrounding areas, far from the shopping centre, to which he or she has to walk alone late at night, exposed to muggings or rape, in order to save some of the pittance earned while providing the impeccable service Fred Withers demands of his staff.

Linda Johnston
Writer and editor

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