Umhlanga Game employees protest over retrenchments

The demonstration is said to be over planned retrenchments.

Mathews Ndlovu of the trade union - SACCAWU- says workers were not given Section 189 notices on time.

Some of the employees were apparently told that they wouldn't be returning to work the following day.

READ: Zuma confident trial will be over soon

"We want the company to acknowledge that in South Africa, there are labour laws. There are registered trade unions that operate within different businesses within the economy of South Africa and respect those labour laws. 

"Where the company is intending to retrench, there must be a proper engagement or consultation with the union. By not consulting the union it appears that there's a hidden agenda behind this so-called retrenchments." 

Game's Corporate Reputation Manager, Michelle Kemp said there have been discussions over the matter with the union for months. 

"We are concerned that the arbitrary nature of this industrial action, in the context of the current economic environment, has potential to cause previously avoidable job losses.

"As if to reinforce the perspective that the rationale for the strike action is not fully understood amongst participating employees we have had instances of staff asking, for example, if they can join the strike for an hour and then return to work or if they can take leave as an alternative to participating. This is further reinforced by indifferent levels of participation in the majority of stores across the group."