“The employers made an offer and we have already rejected it.
They offered 7.5 percent,” said KwaZulu-Natal regional secretary Mbuso
Ngubane. Fuel Retailers’ Association (FRA) CEO Reggy Sibiya said the
union’s decision was regrettable.

“However, we remain optimistic that parties will resolve the impasse
after reflecting on their current positions over the next few days,” he
said. All parties involved were scheduled to meet again on Monday.

The Numsa strike in the petrol and motor retail sector entered its
fourth day on Thursday. The union has demanded a R30 an hour across the
board increase by 2016 on actual rates of pay in all sectors and
divisions for workers earning above R6000 a month.

Groups of people, believed to be striking petrol attendants, visited
petrol stations around Soweto on Thursday and warned them to stop
dispensing fuel, Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela said.

“Police received reports of intimidation, which is increasing at
petrol stations around Soweto.” The groups were moving from filling
station to filling station to check whether people were working.

“They are telling people to stop work.” While there were no reports
of injuries or damage to property by early afternoon, some petrol
stations had closed because of the intimidation, Makhubela said.

The police presence was being increased, with regular patrols at
petrol stations. ”As the police, we are saying if they come and
intimidate… we will come and arrest them.”

He urged striking workers to respect the rights of those who were not
on strike, just as their right to strike was being respected.

Sibiya said the FRA was concerned about the increasing incidents of
intimidation and violence reported by its members country-wide.

“We have a responsibility towards the rights and safety of our
members, our employees and the general public who come to our service
stations.

“As a result, we had no option but to explore necessary recourse
available to us, but not limited to an urgent court interdict to stop
the intimidation,” Sibiya said.

He said more than 100 cases of intimidation had been reported to the FRA, and there were still some cases which had not.

- Sapa