Not even a month after the nationwide strike of municipal workers, Louis Trichardt residents once again have to bear the brunt of yet another strike.

Over the last few weeks, Saccawu (South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union) has been involved in disputes with three divi-sions of the Massmart Holdings Group, namely Makro, Dion and Game. The strike started on August 17.

Last week, residents were horrified when they tried to do their shopping at Game, with strikers not abiding by picketing rules by obstructing clients from entering and exiting the store and intimidating them. According to the union’s own picketing rules, striking members were not allowed to come within 50 metres of the entrance of any standalone store, or where the store doubles as the entrance to a shopping centre or mall. This 50-metre rule also applied to any adjacent or nearby businesses. This rule was obviously ignored.

Customers where greeted by an angry mob of union members, blocking the entrance of the store, singing trademark protest songs and blowing on their vuvuzelas. Every now and again, they would circle the parking area, only to charge down upon the store’s entrance again, waving sticks and fists in the air. Some of their protest posters, amongst others, called on members of Popcru (Police and Prison Civil Rights Union) to support them. Funnily enough, there was no visible policing, despite calls from numerous members of the public for the police to intervene.

In an earlier press statement by Saccawu, the union called upon Massmart Holdings “to respect workers’ rights and the laws of the land and stop intimidating workers engaged in legitimate industrial action.” In contradiction to this statement, however, striking members seem to have conveniently forgotten about the rights of the public regarding intimidation.

Union members even went as far as attacking one of the Zoutpansberger’s correspondents when he tried to photograph the rowdy mass of strikers in the store entrance. They blew a vuvuzela in his face and punched him in the back. A case of common assault and public violence has since been opened by the correspondent against the unruly mob.

Local police spokesperson Capt Maano Sadike said this week that even though there is no regular police supervision at Game, the station commander is in contact with the store’s management to monitor the situation and will respond immediately, should the situation turn violent.

“They call each other every two hours or so,” Sadike said.

The strike follows a deadlock in negotiations between Saccawu and Massmart Holdings. Game workers demand an across-the-board increase of R531 a month, a minimum wage of R2 800 per month, an R80 laundry allowance, a 15% staff discount, Christmas vouchers and the immediate end of the use of temporary workers “as an attempt to break the union.”

The union also demands the unconditional withdrawal of the “unlawful lock-out” of members refusing to be subjected to the biometrical finger-scanning system. Saccawu regards the biometrical system as unfair and illegal and that implementation of the said system should have been preceded by an agreement between the company and the employees.

Brian Leroni, spokesperson for Massmart Holdings, said this week that the biometric system was perfectly legal.

“The Labour Court has dismissed the action brought against Game by Saccawu regarding the replacement of the company’s clock card time and attendance system with a thumbprint verification system. The court granted a cost order against the union,” said Leroni. He added that he was confused by Saccawu’s allegations regarding the biometric system, as Saccawu’s head office in Johannes-burg was using a similar system.

Game has offered a pay increase of R380 or 8%.