OUR TRADITIONS
For fifty years SACCAWU has been at the forefront of organising and fighting for workers in the Retail, Wholesale, Hospitality, Catering and the Financial Services sectors. We remain the largest, most representative, influential and significant union representing workers in these sectors.
Over these decades SACCAWU has won significant protection and improvement for workers, substantial improvements in wages and benefits and greater job security for workers, as well as safe transport. SACCAWU has been a pioneer amongst unions in the country to place issues and challenges faced by women in the workplace squarely on the agenda. It was under the banner of SACCAWU that the first substantial Maternity and Paternity Rights for workers were won and now lead the campaign for childcare, for children of workers.
FIGHT BACK AGAINST BOSSES ATTACKS
However, over the last few years, we have experienced the growing economic downturn, financial crisis, and Covid Pandemic. With these we have witnessed the growth of casualization, the use of labour brokers, extended trading hours, and low wages.
The entry of Walmart and the general Walmartisation of the sector as employers have been on the offensive. Bosses are trying by all means to erode the Union power. This they do by reversing the hard-fought gains made by workers through bitter struggles and enormous sacrifices over many years. They are reducing workers to cheap and extremely exploited labour; as was the case in the dark days of Apartheid.
REBUILD UNION POWER
Today, employers continuously try to aggressively undermine Unions at all levels. And, unless we rebuild our Union, recruit new members, strengthen shopfloor structures, build unity within and between different workplaces and companies, the bosses will get what they always wanted: A cheap, unorganised, disunited and ready-for-super exploitation workers.
JOIN SACCAWU
SACCAWU has achieved much for workers over the years; the improvement of average minimum wages; full parental rights, including paid maternity and paternity leave; negotiated social benefits, including SACCAWU National Provident Fund, medical aid, funeral scheme and other benefits.
While we have achieved a lot, much more is possible and necessary to stem the tide of bosses’ attacks on workers. We will never win at the boardroom table what we cannot win in the streets. We can win nothing on the streets unless we strongly organise!
CONTACT US: NATIONAL OFFICE
Tel: (011) 403 9333
Email: mpho@saccawu.org.za
HEAD OFFICE