Cape Town - There were chaotic scenes at the Pick n Pay store in Observatory on Wednesday afternoon as protesters stormed in, snatching Clover products off the shelves.
As they did so, they called on consumers to boycott the company’s products. Some pasted stickers stating “#BoycottClover, NationaliseCloverUnderWorkersControl, WorkersNeedWayBetter #StopMilkingWorkers” on the products.
Other flyers proclaimed “Stand in solidarity with striking workers and the people of Palestine” with words in bold declaring “Do not buy Clover products” pasted on the aisle and fridges next to Clover products.
Abeeda Adams, co-ordinator of the protest, said they were not against the store, but they were against Clover: “Unfortunately, the store sells Clover products.”
Calls to boycott Clover products are mounting up, as protesters stormed Pick n Pay in Observatory. They filled trolleys with Clover products putting stickers on the products, calling for consumers to boycott Clover. @TheCapeArgus @IOL #BoycottClover pic.twitter.com/4xODy3fjXe
— Sisonke Mlamla (@SISONKE_MD) January 12, 2022
These are the stickers pasted on the products @TheCapeArgus @IOL pic.twitter.com/cdqeiKzocp
— Sisonke Mlamla (@SISONKE_MD) January 12, 2022
This as Clover employees on strike received support from the Media Review Network (MRN), saying it stood in solidarity with the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) and the General Industries Workers Unions of SA (Giwusa) “to gain justice for employees adversely affected” by the takeover of Clover by Israeli company Milco.
Clover has been hit by a strike since November, with workers protesting against wage cuts, retrenchments and corporate restructuring.
As part of the rolling mass action against Clover/Milco, civil organisations and trade unions stormed the Pick n Pay store in a bid to show solidarity with hundreds of Clover workers who have called on consumers to boycott the company’s products.
Pick n Pay workers stood puzzled as the management tried to quell the confusion, engaging with the protesters. Meanwhile, some were eager to fight with them.
Protesters say tomorrow might be a Shoprite, Checkers or any other store that sells Clover products. #BoycottClover @IOL @TheCapeArgus pic.twitter.com/s4Hr6uzWD2
— Sisonke Mlamla (@SISONKE_MD) January 12, 2022
Abeeda Adams, the coordinator for the protest says they demand the unconditional reinstatement of retrenched workers, among other issues.
— Sisonke Mlamla (@SISONKE_MD) January 12, 2022
She says workers demand the complete scrapping of austerity measures including 20% salary cuts, and the disinvestment, MILCO. #BoycottClover pic.twitter.com/3WRkAbSQUT
Adams said they demand the unconditional reinstatement of retrenched workers, among other issues.
She said workers also demand the complete scrapping of austerity measures, including 20% salary cuts and the disinvestment of Milco.
On Monday, members of Fawu and Giwusa demonstrated outside the CCMA offices in Johannesburg and in Cape Town in solidarity with the workers (Call for consumers to boycott Clover in support of its workers).
Bishop Lavis Action Community (Blac) spokesperson Amanda Davids said the support for the Clover strike is a fight for “our own survival”, and is also an opportunity to build creative struggle methods.