THE National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has vowed to intensify an indefinite strike by petrol-pump attendants and car repair workers this week, amid mass marches and reports of intimidation on the first day of the strike.

About 70,000 Numsa-affiliated workers have downed tools, citing a
deadlock in negotiations with employer bodies the Retail Motor Industry
(RMI) and the Fuel Retailers’ Association (FRA). Numsa is seeking
double-digit increases, shift allowances for night-shift workers and a
"peace clause" amendment to prevent companies from pushing for higher
productivity without added financial incentives.

Thousands of Numsa members gathered outside the FRA’s headquarters in Randburg on Monday to hand over a memorandum of demands.

Numsa general secretary Irwin Jim said in Randburg that workers could
not bear the brunt of the global economic crisis. "Bosses must
appreciate we know the economy is in crisis," he told striking workers.
"As workers, we will not pay for this crisis."

Numsa deputy general secretary Karl Cloete said the union had been
informed that employers had withdrawn a 9.5% wage increase offer and
were now offering 7% due to the damages caused by the strike.

Mr Cloete said in response the union warned that "this strike is
indefinite and (employers) must rest assured that we will intensify the
strike".

Numsa represents only 70,000 of the 300,000 workers in the sector,
but said it would aim to attract unorganised workers through a series of
protest marches in the coming week.

Mr Jim encouraged non-Numsa affiliates on Monday to join the strike.
"If you are in this sector, you are protected to join this strike if you
are a Numsa member or not," he said.

Receiving the Numsa memorandum on Monday, FRA CEO Reggie Sibiya said
the association remained committed to resolving the strike as soon as
possible.

Earlier on Monday, RMI executive director Jakkie Olivier said there
had already been reports of intimidation, despite picketing rules
established last week.

Employers were on Monday afternoon meeting to discuss the effect of the strike.

Numsa has also accused about 1,200 companies of breaking away from
collective bargaining to "break the strike" through wage increase offers
to workers of 8%-11%. Mr Olivier denied this claim, saying he had not
seen any reports of companies breaking away from collective bargaining.

Mr Olivier said, however, that it was a large and highly varied
sector spanning about 18,000 companies with differing financial years.

He added that the RMI was disappointed with the decision to strike
and "was taken aback" that Numsa had embarked on industrial action
despite continuing wage mediation.

On the peace clause, Mr Olivier said the union "can’t have its cake and eat it too".

With Sapa