The trucking industry is due to come to a stop from September 24 (as hinted at in FTWOnline on Monday), according to the Transport and Allied Workers Union of SA (Tawusa) and the Professional Transport and Allied Workers Union of SA (Ptawu).
The national strike – which the unions say will involve 260 000 workers - has been officially called for September 25, but all trucks are to be off the roads on the 24th, said Tawusa. Also planned for the 24th is a march of workers from all around the country in Johannesburg, so the strike effectively starts that day.
Tawusa spokesman Mzimasi Ngcukana said other unions, including the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) - by far-and-away the country’s largest transport union - will join the strike.
The grievance is that the unions are demanding a 9% increase, but the employers are only prepared to consider 7% - and deadlock has been reached.
The Tawasu strike notice to the employers was handed over last Friday.