A small group of strikers carrying placards saying “no to Sunday work”, “overworked and underpaid at Buco”, and “employer to contribute 50% towards provident fund" has picketed outside the Buco Hardware store in First Avenue as part of a nationwide strike by the Building Wood and Allied Workers Union of South Africa.
Employees at a Fish Hoek hardware store have downed tools since Monday February 26 as part of a nationwide strike by the Building Wood and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (BWAWUSA).
The employees of The Building Company, which owns Buco Hardware, are demanding no work on Sundays, an increase in annual leave and sick days, R6 000 as a basic entry-level salary, a 13th cheque, and contributions to a provident fund and medical aid.
A small group of strikers carrying placards saying “no to Sunday work”, “overworked and underpaid at Buco”, and “employer to contribute 50% towards provident fund" has picketed outside the First Avenue store.
An employee, who asked not to be named, said it was not the first time they had raised their concerns with management.
In February last year, he said, BWAWUSA had referred the matter to the Commission of Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) for resolution.
He said BWAWUSA had recently submitted a document, containing 13 demands, to the company addressing the failed demands in February 2023.
He said employees had 36 days of sick leave over three years but it should be increased because they worked seven days a week.
“The company (Buco) also won’t accept a sick note from a clinic and wants us to see a private doctor for it,” he said.
Some of the workers earned less than R5 000 a month with no 13th cheque and were not paid overtime for Sunday work, he said, adding that staff at the Fish Hoek branch worked for 12 consecutive days before getting two days off.
The company provided provident funds, but made no contributions to them, he said.
BWAWUSA deputy general secretary Clarence Mtyenele said The Building company was exploiting workers especially "lower level” staff such as cashiers, drivers, and general workers.
The strike, he said, was permitted by the CCMA following last year’s failed negotiations.
“The workers are very tired of the store managers and took a decision to strike until their demands are met,” he said.
Mr Mtyenele said the company offered one week’s bonus for employees who had worked for one year, two weeks’ bonus for two years, and three weeks’ bonus for three years. Employees only received a 13th cheque once they had worked for four years.
“Our members demand 13th cheques for every employee that has completed one year’s service at the company.”
The employee we spoke to said they had had no response from management, and some of the workers had returned to work as they had lost a week’s wages.
“While we are not getting paid while on strike, we are determined to continue until Buco brings something to the table,” he said.
According to the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, an employee who works five days a week is entitled to 30 days of sick leave every 36 months and 36 days every 36 months if they work six days a week.
The law says a sick note can be issued by someone who is certified to diagnose and treat patients and who is registered with a professional council, including dentists, psychologists, interns, and nurses.
In terms of Sunday work, an employer must pay an employee who works on a Sunday at double the employee’s wage for each hour worked, unless the employee ordinarily works on a Sunday, in which case the employer must pay the employee at one and one-half times the employee’s wage for each hour worked.
In a statement, The Building Company’s group executive for human resources, Esther Hopely, said the company valued its employees and complied with the conditions of employment for workers in the wholesale and retail sector as regulated by a sectorial determination made in terms of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.
“We are dedicated to ensuring fair treatment of our employees and strict compliance with labour laws,” she said, adding that the company did not recognise BWAWUSA as a union as it only had a 7% representation, which did not meet the minimum membership threshold of 30%.
However, she added, that did not impede the company’s willingness to engage in meaningful discussions, which she claimed they had already done before the strike.
Mr Mtyenele confirmed that the company did not recognise BWAWUSA, but he said it continued to deduct union fees from its members.