Spar loses business due to strike

Courtesy:Google

Lebohang Pita
@LeboPita

The three week long truck drivers’ strike ended after the Road Freight Employers’ Association (RFEA) and unions reached a settlement on Friday.

The strike affected many retail outlets in the country. There was a halt in the delivery of goods as truck drivers downed tools for a 12% wage increase.

The three big supermarkets in Soshanguve namely Shoprite, Spar and PicknPay were amongst the affected.

Soshanguve PicknPay public relations officer, Mike Mabiletsa conceded that most PicknPay truck drivers are not unionised but could not deliver goods, fearing that their trucks might be torched.

Mabiletsa said they used alternative trucks to collect goods from suppliers so that they could have ample stock.

Essential foods that consumers needed every day were available. If they ran out of stock, Mabiletsa said they would communicate with their customers.

“We made it a point that people received what they required. If not we took their details and delivered it to them within 24 hours after we had located the specific item.”

Shoprite was also affected partially.

Courtesy:Google

Fresh food manager Jane Modise, said the only challenge they faced was when their suppliers ran out of stock.
She said suppliers might have feared to release their trucks to get goods from producers in fear that their trucks might be torched.
The worst affected by the strike was the Maluleke Spar.

The supermarket lost business due to slow deliveries.

Store manager Lungelo Nkosi said Tops lost approximately R300 000 due to the strike.

“Most of the lines (beverages) are sourced from wine. They come from Cape Town so we lost a lot of money.”

The other affected departments were the fresh produce and dairy sections.

Nkosi said employers need to be honest with employees about salary issues.

“If truck drivers or any employess are educated in terms of what is happening with business, it is going to be much easier," said Nkosi. “Businesses should be open to employees and tell them by how much the business is growing each year," he said.

Truck drivers downed tools three weeks ago, demanding a 12% wage increase. On Friday Unions and the RFEA agreed to a three year deal which entails a 10% wage increase in the first year, 8% in the second and 9% in 2014.