High drama as Unitrans strikers turn violent

Violence and large-scale layoffs have accelerated the drama of a long-running labour dispute at Unitrans Swaziland. An unresolved wage disagreement erupted into banner headlines in both of Swaziland’s national newspapers when the company fired 123 workers Tuesday for engaging in what management called an illegal strike action. Landlocked Swaziland imports all its petrol from SA, and the local media has raised the alarm about a possible closure of petrol stations supplied by Unitrans. Company management has reportedly assumed the driving tasks for tanker trucks travelling to Durban for refilling and throughout Swaziland to replenish supply depots and petrol stations. The Times of Swaziland questions whether managers have the legal paperwork to engage in this work. Unitrans services all petrol stations in Swaziland (Total, Caltex, Engen and Excel) but for Galp stations. FTW put the question to Unitrans Swaziland CEO Mduduzi Magongo but was unable to obtain an on the record response.