Fuel-station workers on strike
2010-09-01 10:58
Johannesburg - Members of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) working at petrol stations, workshops and motor dealers downed tools on Wednesday, a union official said.
"Nothing has changed. The strike is going ahead," Numsa spokesperson Castro Ngobese said.
He said it was impossible to say how many members were involved but claimed the union had 70 000 members across the country working in this sector. They work as forecourt attendants or in workshops, vehicle dealers and engineering.
Talks were continuing with the Retail Motor Industry and Fuel Retailers' Association to resolve the impasse.
"Talks are continuing tonight (Wednesday)," Ngobese said.
Numsa's demands include a 20% pay increase across the board and a 40-hour working week with full pay. The union wanted a one-year bargaining agreement to be put in place beginning on September 1, 2010 and ending on June 30, 2011.
"Our demands to the RMI and FRA are consistent with the African National Congress' electoral commitments of creating decent work and sustainable livelihoods for the workers and the poor," the union said in Tuesday.
A march would take place in Bellville in the Western Cape where a memorandum of demands would be handed over to the RMI. FRA CEO Reggie Sibiya said on Tuesday the gaps between what it could offer and Numsa's demands were "too huge".
He said they had introduced a "huge wage adjustment" of 68% in 2007 to bring the industry into line with minimum living-wage expectations. This after above-inflation increases in 2008 and 2009.
While the strike would reportedly affect service at petrol stations Sibiya said no garage would be closed.
"Not everybody is part of the union so garages will not close."
He said the FRA had signed an agreement with the union preventing intimidation and victimisation.
