South Africa: Unresolved Dispute Will Affect Fuel Supply

"The infrastructure is under pressure in any event - so a strike will cause chaos," said the association's CEO, Peter Morgan.  He said Caltex and BP service stations would be the worst hit by the proposed April 7 strike. "And unfortunately we're not even part of the negotiations - Satawu are negotiating with the Road Freight Association," he added.

Morgan warned that if the strike occurred, and if oil companies could not find drivers for their trucks, chaos would ensue. He said most petrol stations had a two-day lead time at most.

In a statement, Satawu confirmed that its national protected strike would begin on Tuesday because its wage dispute with the Road Freight Association remained unresolved. Satawu said long-distance drivers were earning R4 317 a month while the union demanded R6 000.  Satawu called on members of all other unions in the industry to join it in the strike.

However, it said it was prepared to participate in a meeting at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration on Monday. The Road Freight Association's labour relations manager, Magretia Brown, said the association had met the union this week. She hoped the CCMA would bring both parties closer to an agreement.

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