[imagesource: Facebook / Makro SA]

Are you ready for the Black Friday madness?

I hope you have your products bookmarked, having kept watch on the prices over the past few weeks to avoid being duped.

Or better yet, I hope you’ve already pulled the trigger after careful research and your goodies are en route ahead of the mayhem.

One thing you should really try and avoid, pretty much on any given day and tomorrow, in particular, is heading to one of the country’s major retailers in person.

Every year we see videos of chaos and tomorrow at Makro things could be even worse than usual, with employees threatening to leave till points deserted on Black Friday.

EWN reports:

After months of negotiations through the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), workers affiliated to the South African Catering, Commercial and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu) are expected to picket at Makro stores countrywide.

The union said that the aim of the two-day picket, which falls on one of the most popular shopping days of the year, is to pressure the company to accede to their demands over wages and working conditions.

Workers’ demands include a 12% wage increase, an increase in sales commissions from 10% to 20%, and a R100 uniform allowance.

They’d also like a 13th cheque in December. Wouldn’t we all?

Brian Leroni, senior vice president at Massmart, labelled the union’s demands unrealistic:

“Saccawu union officials at Makro have indicated privately that they know the company can’t afford a 12% increase. This is perhaps best supported by the fact that Saccawu recently settled for a 4.5% increase at our Builder’s and Game stores.”

The company says there are contingency plans in place for outlets should the strike go ahead.

Good luck if you’re determined to shop in person. It’s the 21st century, get with the times.

This week also saw US retail giant Walmart complete its R6,4 billion deal to acquire full ownership of Massmart, in which it first bought a 51% stake over a decade ago.

According to Moneyweb, “the decision came after years of waning profitability, especially in its Game stores stable, which consistently underperformed”.

Maybe Leroni isn’t bluffing, then.

[sources:ewn&moneyweb]