by Dev_SACCAWU | Labour Market News
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] conveys its militant salute to millions of nurses across the world celebrating International Nurses Day which is celebrated annually on the 12th May.
We recognise and appreciate the critical role of nurses as the backbone of our healthcare system and the sterling role they play in promoting health and wellbeing of our people. We take this moment to pay tribute to the gallant nurses across the country, we salute their relentless, combative and brave contribution to the noble cause of saving and preserving the health and lives of our people.
As we observe this day, it is important to highlight the plight of nurses particularly under capitalism and imperialism, and to honour the generations, who have fought against oppression and exploitation. As we celebrate this day, we must acknowledge and recommit ourselves to continue with the struggle of nurses and fight all forms of oppression and the social systems that breeds oppression.
Indeed, nurses are part of a broader movement against capitalism, which sustains itself through the exploitation of the working class. They form a critical component in the struggle against greed and human exploitation. Hence, nurses and the working class as a whole, must unite to fight for its rights, and advance the struggle for a free egalitarian society.
We are observing this year’s International Nurses Day under worsening socio-economic conditions of high unemployment, poverty and inequality confronting our nation. This is as a result of the government implementing neoliberal macroeconomic policies which have destroyed the capacity of the state to deliver social services such as Health.
The health system generally is confronted by a myriad of challenges across, ranging from the poor management of hospitals and clinics, emergency services, forensic pathology, capacity of districts in driving primary health care delivery, inability to account for finances by state-aided hospitals, failure to deploy resources for the speedily implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) to guarantee universal access to health for all citizens of this country.
Despite the enormous challenges facing the public health system in South Africa, nurses continue to keep our hospitals and clinics functional. Every day they carry the health system on their shoulders, often working under difficult conditions and facing the frustration of communities who are suffering because of poor service delivery. Nurses are the backbone of healthcare. They ensure that patients receive treatment, even when there is a shortage of staff, medicines, equipment and other essential resources. They go beyond the call of duty to deliver babies safely, care for the sick, comfort families and save lives. From the moment a child is born until the final moments of life, nurses are there providing compassionate and professional care.
South Africa faces a serious shortage of nurses. The World Health Organization recommends a minimum threshold of about 44.5 doctors, nurses and midwives per 10,000 people to achieve universal health coverage. South Africa remains below what is required in many provinces and facilities, especially in rural and underserved areas. In some public hospitals and clinics, one professional nurse may be forced to care for 30 to 40 patients during a shift, far above safe staffing norms. One of the biggest obstacles facing nurses is government austerity and budget cuts, which have led to frozen posts and worsening staff shortages.
For this reason, the union has adopted the theme for International Nurses Day 2026: “Stop Budget Cuts, Fill Vacancies: Empower Nurses for a Functional NHI”. If we are serious about building a strong and functional National Health Insurance system, we must invest in nurses, fill all vacant posts and provide the resources they need to care for our people.
The World Health Organization advocates that nurses and midwives are key to the achievement of its goal of Universal Health Coverage because they play a critical role in health promotion, disease prevention and the delivery of care in all settings. Furthermore, the WHO advocates for greater investment in the education, employment, service delivery and leadership of nurses which will stimulate economic growth by creating decent jobs for nurses and greater economic participation, and such advancements can accelerate progress towards health equity, gender equality and UHC through a primary healthcare approach and move towards achieving the broader Sustainable Development Agenda.
We reiterate our long-held position as the union that it is imperative for government to invest in the nursing fraternity to address major challenges encountering our healthcare system. This investment would contribute in improving and strengthening the healthcare system ensuring that it provides access to quality health services for all in line with the principles of universal health coverage.
The government must invest in the nursing fraternity through the employment of more nurses in order to have an effective and functional health system that provides qualitative health outcomes for the population as per the vision of HRH Strategy. Equally, in order to achieve a well-developed and sustainable healthcare system it’s crucial to have nurses that are skilled, knowledgeable and have expertise to provide healthcare services. The government must invest on nurses for the realisation of providing quality healthcare services for our people.
Lastly, the union will continue advocating for investment in the nursing fraternity to be at the centre in the reengineering of our primary healthcare system to ensure all citizens have access to proper and quality healthcare.
END
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat.
Zola Saphetha (General Secretary) at 082 558 5968; December Mavuso (Deputy General Secretary) at 082 558 5969; Lwazi Nkolonzi (NEHAWU National Spokesperson) at 081 558 2335 or email: lwazin@nehawu.org.za
Source: https://mediadon.co.za/nehawu-statement-on-international-nurses-day-3/
by Dev_SACCAWU | Labour Market News
SACCAWU has condemned Pick n Pay’s restructuring plans, warning that proposed pay cuts, reduced benefits and possible retrenchments threaten the livelihoods and working conditions of about 22,000 employees across South Africa.
The South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU) has strongly condemned what it has described as a threat to job security and negotiated working conditions affecting approximately 22,000 Pick n Pay workers.
In a media briefing on Monday, the union said the company’s restructuring process presents employees with what it called two undesirable choices, stating that workers are being forced to either accept retrenchments or agree to the downward variation of their employment conditions.
The union also criticised the retail giant’s decision to refer the dispute directly to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) before presenting proposals through established internal negotiation structures.
“(Pick n Pay CEO) Sean Summers’ decision to refer a dispute to the CCMA, before their proposals were tabled to SACCAWU, is indicative of the bad faith with which they are embarking on this process.”
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SACCAWU said the proposals included reducing monthly working hours from 196 to 176, which could result in about a R2,000 pay cut per worker, removing transport for late and night shifts, scrapping the 13th cheque for non-management staff, ending Sunday pay premiums, withdrawing benefits for part-time employees, and eliminating existing flexibility and multi-skilling agreements.
The union accused the company of protecting top management salaries while placing the burden of restructuring on lower-level employees.
In its statement, SACCAWU claimed management was sacrificing workers’ livelihoods.
“Pick n Pay management is hellbent on ringfencing their own high salaries and benefits, while deepening the levels of poverty, unemployment, inequality, and economic hardship.”
The union also raised concerns about the effectiveness of CCMA-facilitated processes, arguing that Section 189 and 189A procedures may reduce meaningful negotiation.
SACCAWU warned that it was prepared to escalate the matter if necessary, stating that it was ready to mobilise members and communities in defence of jobs and collective agreements, including the possibility of industrial action.
Pick n Pay has described the move as the next step in a multi-year financial turnaround that has already seen the closure of many loss-making stores, the repayment of debt, and the freezing of salaries.
Source: https://www.ecr.co.za/news/news/saccawu-blasts-pick-n-pay-restructuring-plans/
by Dev_SACCAWU | Labour Market News
The South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU) has strongly condemned what it described as a threat to job security and negotiated working conditions affecting approximately 22,000 Pick n Pay workers.
In a media briefing held on Monday, the union said the company’s restructuring process presents employees with what it called two undesirable choices, stating that workers are being forced to either accept retrenchments or agree to the downward variation of their employment conditions.
The union also criticised the retail giant’s decision to refer the dispute directly to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) before presenting proposals through established internal negotiation structures.
“Sean Summers’ decision to refer a dispute to the CCMA, before their proposals were tabled to SACCAWU, is indicative of the bad faith with which they are embarking on this process.”
SACCAWU said the proposals included reducing monthly working hours from 196 to 176, which could result in about a R2,000 pay cut per worker, removing transport for late and night shifts, scrapping the 13th cheque for non-management staff, ending Sunday pay premiums, withdrawing benefits for part-time employees, and eliminating existing flexibility and multi-skilling agreements.
The union accused the company of protecting top management salaries while placing the burden of restructuring on lower-level employees.
In its statement, SACCAWU claimed management was sacrificing workers’ livelihoods.
“Pick n Pay Management is hellbent on ringfencing their own high salaries and benefits, while deepening the levels of poverty, unemployment, inequality, and economic hardship.”
The union also raised concerns about the effectiveness of CCMA-facilitated processes, arguing that Section 189 and 189A procedures may reduce meaningful negotiation.
SACCAWU warned that it was prepared to escalate the matter if necessary, stating that it stood ready to mobilise members and communities in defence of jobs and collective agreements, including possible industrial action.
Source: https://www.jacarandafm.com/news/news/saccawu-blasts-pick-n-pay-restructuring-plans/
by Dev_SACCAWU | Labour Market News
SACCAWU says it is preparing to oppose Pick n Pay’s restructuring process, warning that around 22,000 workers could be affected.
The dispute relates to the retailer’s Section 189A consultation process involving store employees in its Non-Management Bargaining Unit, launched as part of Pick n Pay’s turnaround efforts to improve efficiency and competitiveness.
The union accused the retailer of sidestepping established engagement structures and rejected reports suggesting negotiations over revised employment terms were already under way.
According to SACCAWU, workers are being pressured to either accept retrenchments or agree to reduced employment conditions, including changes to collective agreements and benefits negotiated over many years. COSATU has backed the union’s stance against possible job cuts and changes to worker benefits.
Pick n Pay said the process is aimed at reviewing labour flexibility and employment structures that it believes no longer match market conditions or changing customer shopping habits. The retailer insisted the consultation process is not intended to permanently reduce staff numbers, but to create a more sustainable operating model.
CEO Sean Summers said the retailer has already implemented major restructuring measures, including store closures, support office changes, salary freezes and the listing of Boxer, as part of efforts to restore profitability.
SACCAWU claims the proposals could reduce monthly working hours from 196 to 176, cutting wages by roughly R2,000 per employee, while also removing transport support for certain late-shift workers.
The union criticised Pick n Pay for referring the matter to the CCMA before tabling proposals internally and warned it may pursue industrial action if the dispute escalates.
Pick n Pay’s latest interim results showed its group loss before tax and capital items narrowed to R317 million, compared with R1.1 billion in the previous comparable period.
SACCAWU pushes back against Pick n Pay restructuring plans
SACCAWU says it is preparing to oppose Pick n Pay’s restructuring process, warning that around 22,000 workers could be affected.
The dispute relates to the retailer’s Section 189A consultation process involving store employees in its Non-Management Bargaining Unit, launched as part of Pick n Pay’s turnaround efforts to improve efficiency and competitiveness.
The union accused the retailer of sidestepping established engagement structures and rejected reports suggesting negotiations over revised employment terms were already under way.
According to SACCAWU, workers are being pressured to either accept retrenchments or agree to reduced employment conditions, including changes to collective agreements and benefits negotiated over many years. COSATU has backed the union’s stance against possible job cuts and changes to worker benefits.
Pick n Pay said the process is aimed at reviewing labour flexibility and employment structures that it believes no longer match market conditions or changing customer shopping habits. The retailer insisted the consultation process is not intended to permanently reduce staff numbers, but to create a more sustainable operating model.
CEO Sean Summers said the retailer has already implemented major restructuring measures, including store closures, support office changes, salary freezes and the listing of Boxer, as part of efforts to restore profitability.
SACCAWU claims the proposals could reduce monthly working hours from 196 to 176, cutting wages by roughly R2,000 per employee, while also removing transport support for certain late-shift workers.
The union criticised Pick n Pay for referring the matter to the CCMA before tabling proposals internally and warned it may pursue industrial action if the dispute escalates.
Pick n Pay’s latest interim results showed its group loss before tax and capital items narrowed to R317 million, compared with R1.1 billion in the previous comparable period.
Source: https://supermarket.co.za/index.php/news?catid=175&id=7913:saccawu-pushes-back-against-pick-n-pay-restructuring-plans&view=article
by Dev_SACCAWU | Labour Market News
SACCAWU is preparing to oppose Pick n Pay’s proposed restructuring process, which it alleges could affect about 22,000 workers.
The dispute centres on Pick n Pay’s Section 189A consultation process involving store-based employees in its Non-Management Bargaining Unit, part of the retailer’s broader turnaround strategy aimed at improving competitiveness and operational efficiency. It started the consultation process last Monday.
The South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union today accused the retailer of attempting to bypass established engagement structures and said it was angered by media reports suggesting it had already entered negotiations over new employment terms.
“The S189A CCMA notices issued to employees effectively give them two undesirable choices, one is to accept retrenchments, or as an alternative to retrenchments, to accept the downward variation of their negotiated conditions of employment, which includes their agreement to cancel all their collective agreements on workers’ rights and protections,” the union said in a statement.
COSATU supports
SACCAWU argued that the proposed restructuring threatened conditions negotiated over many years and warned it would oppose any attempt to unfairly vary employment terms or retrench workers.
Trade federation COSATU said it supported SACCAWU’s efforts to resist what it described as looming retrenchments of 22,000 staff and changes to negotiated worker benefits.
Pick n Pay, however, said the process was intended to review labour flexibility and employment structures that it believes are above current market norms and increasingly out of step with modern shopping patterns.
The retailer said the consultation process was not intended to permanently reduce overall job numbers, but rather to create a more sustainable and competitive store labour model aligned with customer shopping behaviour.
Critical reality
According to Pick n Pay, the review applies only to certain store-based employees and excludes support office staff and management structures.
CEO Sean Summers, who was brought out of retirement to turn the ailing retailer around, said it had already undertaken significant restructuring measures over the past two years, including changes to its holding structure, the Boxer listing, store closures, support office restructuring and salary freezes for support office staff.
“We must now address a critical reality that our current store labour model has been out of balance in the marketplace for some time. While established with positive intention, these structures have become increasingly complex, reducing flexibility and our ability to respond to retail trends and customer demands,” said Summers.
Summers added: “If we are to compete on an equal footing in an increasingly constrained marketplace, we can no longer sustain structures that are materially above market norms, especially while trying to return the business to profitability. Simply put, without change, this will put the business’s future at risk.”
Financial burden
SACCAWU, meanwhile, argued that workers should not bear the burden of the retailer’s operational and financial challenges while executives and shareholders remained protected.
Among SACCAWU’s concerns, it said, is that Pick n Pay will reduce “working hours from 196 hours per month to 176 hours (this is equivalent to a R2000 reduction in wages per employee)”.
It also accused Pick n Pay of “doing away with transport for employees who work late shifts that fall outside normal public transport schedules, and those who work a night shift”.
Pick n Pay’s latest results for the 26 weeks to the end of last August indicate that its loss at group level before tax and capital items reduced 69.9% to R317 million when compared with a loss of R1.1 billion in the first half of 2025.
SACCAWU also criticised the retailer’s decision to refer the matter to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration before tabling proposals through internal negotiating structures.
Industrial action
The union said it was prepared to mobilise organisational and legal mechanisms to defend workers and warned industrial action could follow if the dispute escalated further.
“If further provoked we are organisationally ready to mobilise and campaign to rally our members and communities to unleash industrial and mass action in defence of our members, their families, collective agreements, workers’ rights and our country’s economy from vultures seeking to devour human progress and developmental imperative aimed to deliver better life for workers,” said SACCAWU.
Yet, Summers said “our priority through this process is to protect jobs wherever possible while building a more sustainable business. Our goal is to ensure that Pick n Pay can grow again, open more stores and continue to provide work for people in the future.
“To achieve this, we must stay competitive, be financially viable, and serve our customers in the way they choose to shop.”
Source: https://iol.co.za/business/jobs/2026-05-11-saccawu-prepares-fight-against-pick-n-pay-restructuring/
by Dev_SACCAWU | Labour Market News
The South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union SACCAWU has rejected the Section 189 notice issued to workers by Pick n Pay .
The union has outlined its plan of action, accusing the retailer of undermining collective bargaining processes. The retailer has proposed an overhaul of its store labour model through a retrenchment process.
The union has threatened to down tools, calling on management to halt retrenchments and return to the negotiating table.
Source: https://www.theafrica.co.za/africanews/saccawu-rejects-pick-n-pay-retrenchment-notice-46154284
