JOHANNESBURG – About 30,000 workers affiliated to the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (Saccawu) and employed at Shoprite Checkers are expected to down tools on Friday.

The protected one-day strike is likely to impact pre-Christmas shopping - one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.

Saccawu members are demanding a reversal of changes to working hours and the reinstatement of workers at Sandton Checkers.

Staff at the northern Johannesburg branch were dismissed for opposing the time changes.

Further demands include guaranteed minimum work hours for part-time employees as well as safe transportation for night shift workers.

Africa’s largest retailer has been under scrutiny over working conditions and low pay for employees, while executives bag multimillion-rand bonuses.

Saccawu said a full-blown strike will follow if the company fails to change working conditions.