So Ramond Ackerman of Pick n Pay (please note no apostrophe on the n) just told Saccawu to get fucked... admittedly in slightly more acceptable language. The union has said that Pick n Pay is historically a racist organisation, so they are going to go on strike in the middle of the Christmas season. It stinks a bit too much of an opportunistic ploy to demand an above inflation pay rise. In response Ray-Ray told them to take their ungrateful arses off to another employer. PnP have sited many policies and practices to refute what Saccawu have said. Helz might be able to tell us if what they are saying is founded from her time at PnP.
This might seem like just another ordinary left vs right tif, but I think there is something more to it. If you remember, a couple months back Trevor Manuel told business (quite rightly in my mind) that they are a bunch of pussies, who keep on complaining about the strength of the labour movements in the country, whilst always giving in to their demands. This might be the first case of business heeding Trev's call and showing a bit of backbone.
If this does become a trend, there will most probably be a power struggle in the next year or so. The unions will not give up their power too easily, and therefore will try and flex their muscles. Maybe a municipal strike just before the World Cup? But union membership has been decreasing since 1994 (i think?), so something like that might cause a backlash where the unions lose favor in the country. So any such struggle could in in turn could affect, or at least reveal, their influence in the political arena.
Just a thought.
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manuel was bladdy cheeky with that comment knowing full well that over 50% of cosatu members are in government workers' unions. it's government who needs to step up and take on some unions, but they won't because ANC=government and need cosatu (up to a point), and the anc prefers to manage it's love-hate affair with cosatu behind closed doors.
trevor was just trying to get business to do government's dirty work.
that said, i'm all for big companies playing hardball. unions are mucho importanto, but they are far too political in their approach, and far too quick to play the race card. it's as if they all they ever want is to pick a fight and then strike.
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