Solidarity tackles Woolies

INLSA

(File photo) Woolworths. Photo: Simphiwe Mbokazi

Johannesburg - Trade union Solidarity has launched a campaign to get Woolworths to retract job advertisements it believes discriminate against whites.

Solidarity deputy general secretary Dirk Hermann said on Wednesday Woolworths had failed to retract advertisements for posts for which only black candidates would be considered.

Solidarity sent a letter to Woolworths on Tuesday demanding that advertisements exclusively open to “African blacks” or “Africans, coloureds and Indians”, be modified so people of all races could be considered.

Hermann said the Woolworth's advertisements constituted unfair race discrimination.

Solidarity's campaign: “Woolworse: Making a differentiation”, would be driven by social media and include protest messages to Woolworths CEO Ian Moir.

“In the media, Woolworths argues that they are only complying with affirmative action laws. However, the truth is that the Employment Equity Act does not allow such exclusions,” said Hermann.

Woolworths' operations officer Sam Ngumeni denied the company was following racist recruitment processes.

“In order to meet our transformation commitments we use various mechanisms, such as designation, to deliver on our Employment Equity Plan, which is in line with the Employment Equity Act,” he said.

The company remained open and transparent about which vacancies were designated in its job advertisements.

“Jobs are only designated and preference indicated where there is a need to address representation and ensure the diversity of our teams. Other than that, all other jobs are open to applicants from all demographic groups,” he said. - Sapa