Intimidation mars petrol station strike
Intimidation mars petrol station strike
About 70,000 National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (Numsa) workers downed tools on Monday demanding, among other things, double digit wage increases and improved remuneration for those working night shifts. Wage talks between the union and employer bodies, the Fuel Retailers Association and Retail Motor Industry deadlocked in July.
These two bodies reported a sporadic effect on business.
The majority of workers in the sector are not organised, with about
200,000 not affiliated to any union. Numsa has vowed to accelerate the
pace of the strike action, planning further marches in Mpumalanga on
Wednesday, and in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State on
Thursday.
Fuel Retailers Association CEO Reggie Sibiya said on Tuesday Numsa
was violating picketing rules, with some fuel stations reporting
intimidation. This had forced the closure of about 10 fuel stations as
of Tuesday morning, which was evidence of a violation of the "spirit of
the strike" and the right of some workers to choose to work, he said.
Retail Motor Industry executive director Jakkie Olivier echoed
concerns that incidents of intimidation and violations of picketing
rules seemed to be occurring with "increasing frequency".
This was being brought to Numsa’s attention, while discussions on
picketing rules would continue during formal wage negotiations due to
resume today and expected to continue until late tomorrow.
Numsa said the allegations of intimidation were unsubstantiated, but
the union was taking them seriously. It would institute disciplinary
procedures against any member acting outside the law but was "suspicious
that rotten elements, particularly criminals, might be hijacking our
legitimate strike."
In the construction sector a three-week long strike by 90,000 members
of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) continued, as it met
employer body the South African Federation of Civil Engineering
Contractors yesterday. After the meeting, spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said
the NUM was now waiting for employers to send through documentation
containing proposals on the "contentious issue" of suitable increases
for entry level employees.
A strike by technical service workers at South African Airways
Technical came to an end on Tuesday despite the lack of an agreement on
deadlocked wage negotiations that sparked two weeks of industrial unrest
at the national carrier’s subsidiary. However, bargaining was due to
continue.