There is no breakthrough in sight for the strike affecting petrol refineries and stations, according to the National Petroleum Employers’ Association (NPEA).
The Chemical Energy Paper Printing Wood and Allied Workers’ Union (Ceppwawu) is demanding a wage increase of 9% while the employers – represented by the NPEA – are offering a 7% increase.
The strike has mainly affected fuel refineries and depots and has had an impact on delivery to filling stations, with widespread reports of filling stations running out of fuel.
Fuel supply companies such as Engen and Sasol however announced this week that they had activated contingency plans to mitigate the impact of the strike in the sector.
Engen corporate communications specialist, Cindy-Lee Maneveld, said in a statement: "With over 1 000 sites countrywide, supply to our customers remains a critical part of our value delivery."
Ceppwawu spokesperson, Clement Chitja, said in a statement today that the strike would continue until workers’ demands were met.
The union has also received support from the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) who today (Tuesday) called on the NPEA to heed fuel refinery workers’ demands or “face a secondary strike” by its other affiliates.
“Cosatu is calling on the employers to accede to the reasonable demands. The federation will be exploring the possibility of coordinating all our affiliates to support Ceppwawu in their struggles…an injury to one is an injury to all,” the trade union said in a statement.
