The South African Federation of Trade Unions backs its affiliate, the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers [NUPSAW], which is preparing for a strike at DisChem Pharmacies starting on 17 January 2018 at their places of work across the country.
NUPSAW is facing a problem shared by many unions of being denied recognition and organisational rights in terms of section 21 of the Labour Relations Act (LRA).
SAFTU agrees fully with NUPSAW that “the employer’s stubborn and extreme behaviour regarding the union’s organisational rights has now set the stage for conflict and has left us with no other option but take this very unfortunate and painful decision, considering that it might also affect the sick and the frail who buy from DisChem pharmacies”.
Not only DisChem but many other employers are trying to avoid having to recognize and grant organisational rights to unions which stand up for their members’ interests, unlike many sweetheart unions with whom they have established a cozy relationship and whom they now want to protect from SAFTU’s more militant affiliates.
NUPSAW, like all other SAFTU-affiliated unions, is determined to fight for higher wages, better working conditions and to defend the unions’ rights under the Labour Relations Act to organize and represent workers.
SAFTU calls on all its members to join NUPSAW members in any action they take in support of their strike, which is not just a fight for DisChem workers and NUPSAW members, but for all workers struggling against exploitation, poverty pay, racial and gender discrimination and abuse.
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