Woolworths Racist Recruiting Excludes Whites
2012-09-02 10:09:16 Justin Harrison
This week I broke the story wide open on the social networks about how Woolworths SA blatantly posted ads on their career site that were exclusive of whites. These ads mentioned that the job posts were only open to African, Colored and Indian candidates, clearly excluding whites.
A friend of mine posted a message to my Facebook page about Woolworths racist job postings and after doing my own investigations, I decided that I needed to take a stand and do something about this.
As a post apartheid child, I am neither politically motivated or inspired, however the increasing blatant racist economic policies that are very clearly exclusive of whites is starting to require a voice and some decisive action.
Those whites who are still in South Africa stayed and signed up for a fully inclusive country, and just want to get on with it and build a South Africa that works for everyone.
Woolworths SA is not alone in it’s policies, recent racist hiring policies events at SAA that also excludes whites highlights that government regulation has made it acceptable to exclude certain race groups under the guise of economic transformation.
However change starts with one action at a time and I have since launched a full scale campaign against Woolworths South Africa in a bid to get a public apology from them, as well as getting them to revert their policies to be fully inclusive and equal to all South Africans, failing which I am calling for all calling all South Africans that oppose racism to boycott Woolworths.
After all, I find it only fair that if they expect whites to spend money in their stores, they should provide equal opportunities to all (including whites). I mean honestly how do I support a store that won’t employ my children?
Since I started my campaign on Friday (31 August 2012), Woolworths SA have been trying to cover their tracks rather than facing the problem head on. Following messages I sent to them via email, Facebook and Twitter on Saturday (1 September 2012) they started changing the text on the career site to a more politically correct statement that reads “In accordance with Woolworths’
Employment Equity approach, preference will be given to candidates from designated groups” Fortunately I anticipated this might happen and took screenshots and downloaded their site before they could cover this up, so no matter how they now approach this PR nightmare they have created I have proof of the original adverts.
Following my messages on their Facebook Page they have since banned me from commenting on their page as of today (Sunday 02 September). Since they now clearly refuse to engage me directly I am left with no option but to take this to the media, and I have already started contacting local and international new agencies.
I have also noticed that since I posted my update on Twitter yesterday (Saturday 01 September) showing how they changed the ads in a bid to cover up the blatant racist ads, they have as of today (Sunday 02 September 2012) since not only reverted some of the ads back to the original text, but have now added additional wording to state: In accordance with our Marketing EE Requirements, this role is designated for African Black candidates” Woolworths is clearly in a spin over how to deal with this issue and they would do well to learn from SAA’s mistake. Issue a public apology and revert the hiring policies to be fully inclusive and based purely on experience and ability.
I think it’s high time that in 2012 businesses stop cowering to the ANC lead government and realize it is their customers that keep the lights on, not government or government policy. If South African businesses continue to marginalize any sector of the population, black, white, colored or Indian they face the wrath of public led justice and we will see these companies economically crippled.
Woolworths South Africa, you have been warned! Do the right thing