Strike expected to paralyze petrol stations in South Africa

English>>World

Editor's Pick

Strike expected to paralyze petrol stations in South Africa

(Xinhua) 08:41, September 09, 2013

Email|Print|Comments

twitter

facebook

Sina Microblog

CAPE TOWN, Sept. 8 -- Motorists thronged to petrol stations on Sunday in anticipation of an upcoming massive strike that is expected to paralyze petrol stations across the country.

About 72,000 workers will down tools on Monday after mediation process failed to resolve the wage impasse between the National Union of Metalworkers South Africa (NUMSA) on the one hand and the Fuel Retailers Association (FRA) and Retail Motor Industry Organization (RMIO) on the other.

The strike, scheduled for next Monday, will involve the "cheaply exploited" workers in petrol stations, components, automotive retail, panel-beaters, car and spare parts, fitment workshops, truck body and trailer builders and dealerships, according to the NUMSA.

The strike was originally planned to take off last week but was postponed to give employers more time to consider the NUMSA's demands for an increase of 30-rand (about 3 U.S. dollars) per hour on actual rates of pay across the board in all sectors and divisions for all workers earning above 6,000.00 per month by 2016.

Other demands include the removal of area differentials and discriminatory clause, night shift allowance of 20 percent of normal rate of pay, and afternoon shift allowance of 15 percent of normal rate of pay.

Since the FRA and RMIO have rejected all the demands presented by NUMSA, the strike is set to begin on Monday, NUMSA Deputy General Secretary Karl Cloete said, adding NUMSA represents 70,000 of the 300,000 workers. A huge percentage of workers are not affiliated with trade unions, he said.

"We are getting into a battle against of a backdrop of a huge percentage of unorganized workers particularly in the rural areas, " said Cloete.

But when the strike starts on Monday, the union is anticipating new members numbering between 30,000 and 40,000.

"As the strike progresses, our mobilization will not stop," Cloete said.

As the strike is imminent, motorists are advised to fill up their tanks.

At a petrol station near Century City, Cape Town, an attendant who gave him name only as Tshawi, said he would take part in the strike.

"That's the only way we can get our voice heard," he said. "I know no work and no pay. I also know the harder we work, the higher pay we should get."

Omega Shelly, a company employee, waited for more than 40 minutes to get her tanked filled. "I'm afraid the strike would last long. I can only drive for one week with a full tank at most. But if the strike continues, where can I fill my tank again?"

The NUMSA threatened that the strike would continue indefinitely until all its demands are met.

The strike will be the latest in a series of industrial actions sweeping all major sectors, including mining, construction, auto, energy and transport.

The South African economy is losing billions of rands every day due to the strikes, a common scene during the turbulent "strike season" when employers and unions are negotiating to renew work contracts.

The government has appealed to both sides to reach agreements speedily so as to lessen the strike's impact on the economy. But so far the appeal has failed to take effect.