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The South African Clothing and Textile Workers Union has tabled a notice of possible protest action against retailers regarding, amongst other issues, high levels of imports by retailers, pricing policies of retailers towards manufacturers and the practices of retailers in shifting their sources to low wages areas and exploiting workers in the informal sector. The notice, which was received after the close of business on 21 May 2001, also cites the continuing job losses in the clothing, textile and footwear manufacturing industry as a reason for the intended socio-economic protest action. Sactwu's notice says that these are caused, inter alia, by the sourcing decisions of retailers

The notice was tabled in terms of Section 77 of the Labour Relations Act, which allows registered trade unions or federations of trade unions to undertake protest action to promote and protect the social and economic interests of workers, if they follow certain procedures. Before embarking on protest action, the trade union concerned is required to serve notice on Nedlac stating the reasons for the protest action and the intended nature of the protest action. The Act requires the Nedlac parties to meet with the trade union and the parties at whom the notice is directed, to consider the issues raised. Should the issues remain unresolved after thorough consideration, workers are entitled to participate in protected protest action 14 days after serving a second notice on Nedlac of their intention to proceed with the action.

In the notice served on Nedlac, Sactwu says that the protest would take on some of the following forms:

* Mass rallies outside retail stores;
* Placard demonstrations at targeted retail warehouses
* Demonstrations at events sponsored by any of the retail companies;
* Call for consumer boycotts; and
* "Siyalala's" at the retail companies and associated operations during operating hours for the purpose of retarding and/or obstructing work in order to defend the socio-economic interests of workers.

The protest is directed at the retail sector. Sactwu specifies 11 retailers in the notice: Mr Price; Pepkor; Edgars Group; Wooltru Group; The Foschini Group; LA Group; Stuttafords; Choice Clothing; Pick n Pay; Milady's Retail Clothing and Shoprite Checkers.

The notice has been forwarded to Nedlac's standing committee on Section 77 notices, which will be required to call a meeting of the parties.

Contact: Jennifer Wilson on 011 482 2511/082 495 1341

Issued by: Nedlac, 23 May 2001