CAPE TOWN – The Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry says it's
concerned about the impact the petrol attendants strike may have on
businesses.

Filling stations have had to rely on skeleton staff as members
of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) continue
to strike for higher wages. 

The strike by motor industry employees officially kicked off on Monday.

Workers are demanding a double digit wage increase, equating to a hike of around R30 per hour.

Employers initially offered members a 9.5 percent hike, but are now only offering seven percent.

Petrol attendants, panelbeaters, car and spare part dealers are among those striking.

The chamber's Viola Manuel says if one looks at overseas trends, the jobs of petrol attendants could become obsolete.

“We are trusting it's been explained to the petrol attendants
specifically that the international trend would really make their jobs
obsolete if we were to actually go for self-service which is happening
in the rest of the world.”

There were fears the supply of petrol would be disrupted, but
most Gauteng motorists had no trouble filling their tanks on Monday with
several petrol attendants reporting to their posts. 

But several Cape Town filling stations said they were taking strain.

While the Retail Motor Industry Organisation has tried to downplay
the impact of the strike action, one Strand filling station manager said
she hopes the strike ends soon.

“It’s been tough. We had no attendance here, but we were lucky
enough to get friends and neighbours to come and help out. I want the
strike to end and I hope everything returns to normal.”

Shell
South Africa General Manager Bonang Mohale said on Monday contingency
plans are in place to mitigate the impact of the strike.

Mohale said filling stations are prepared.

“We
happen to have this strike season almost every year for the last five
years. We have now become very effective and efficient in ensuring that
indeed there are contingency plans.”

Meanwhile the
Fuel Retailers Association (FRA)’s Reggie Sibiya says the organisation
made Numsa a generous offer before they decided to down tools.

“Unfortunately
it [the offer] was conditional and based on us averting the strike. So
we said if you go on strike the offer is off and we go back to seven
percent.”

He said he hopes a resolution will be reached soon. 

 “We really hope Numsa will also come to the party because as you can see they haven’t moved their demands and we have."

(Edited by Gia Kaplan)