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By Tom Robbins

Cape Town – SA Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (Saccawu) members working at Woolworths began a five-day strike yesterday to demand official recognition, but the retailer said the effect on trading was “minimal”.

Chief operating officer Zyda Rylands, interviewed at 1pm, said all stores were open for trading, and that the industrial action was peaceful.

But Saccawu national administrative secretary Lucas Ramatlhodi disputed Rylands’ statement, saying early reports had indicated that at least 60 percent of the workforce had stayed away. “Productivity levels were significantly lower and at some stores in Johannesburg there were no staff below supervisor level in attendance.”

Saccawu says it has at least 34 percent membership of the Woolworths workforce, enough to entitle it to formal recognition by the retailer.

A recognition agreement would allow the union to have membership fees deducted from members’ wages by stop order, increase negotiating rights and give union officials access to organising in the workplace.

Rylands said Saccawu had less than 15 percent membership of the 18 000 staff, and that the minimum percentage required for recognition was part of a negotiation process with the union. The Labour Relations Act was not specific on the minimum requirement, she said.

Ramatlhodi said the act defined the minimum as “sufficient representation”, but the intention behind the legislation was to allow formal recognition of trade unions.

Saccawu said more than 10 years ago that Woolworths had “de-recognised” it after a drive to replace permanent staff with casual workers.

Over the last three years Woolworths has avoided the costly strikes endured by supermarket groups Shoprite and Pick n Pay.

Woolworth’s shares yesterday rose 1.31 percent to R12.36. The general retail sector fell 1.04 percent.