Nakumatt staff strike flops

Employees of Nakumatt Supermarket yesterday aborted a planned strike citing poor coordination, The New Times has established. According to sources, the strike which had been planned on Friday was called off by its clandestine leaders citing poor organisation as some of the employees had not been informed. According to employees who preferred anonymity, the strike was planned in the absence of some workers and there was fear that they would turn up on for work on Monday. “We wanted all of us not to show up for work today (yesterday),” said the source. “There are some of our colleagues who were not aware of the move and we wanted every one to know about it with no one isolated. All of us are having the same problems but the strike had not been communicated to all employees,” another source said. The workers had demanded salary increases four months ago but there has been no response from management. They allege that their net monthly salary does not reflect the work they do. The workers who earn between Rwf75, 000 and Rfw100,000 monthly say it is little compared to their 13-hour work day. The workers report at 8:00AM and depart at 9:00 PM.“This money is not enough compared to the work done,” an employee who asked not to be named said. “We want them to consider our demands or else reduce on the working hours.” When contacted, Joseph Ndungu, Nakumatt’s country Director said he was not aware of the planned strike. “I did not know anything about our workers planning a strike today,” Ndungu sounding surprised responded. “I am shocked that these workers never raised those issues in our weekly meetings and instead went an extra mile to organise a surprise strike,” he added He denied claims that the employees had requested salary increases. “Though we also had it in plan to review their salaries, they have never brought that complaint to my office,” he said. Had the strike taken place yesterday, it would have come a day after Nakumatt celebrated a year in operation on Sunday.Nakumatt Holdings has set aside more than $20m for expansion in East Africa. The Kigali branch is the first of its kind in the region and brings the total number of Nakumatt supermarkets to 20. Ends

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Nakumatt staff strike flops