Nationwide strike threatens road freight transport

The first meeting between the association and the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) and three other unions in November ended in deadlock over issues concerning wages and employment conditions, leading to the threat of a nationwide strike if the next meeting scheduled for the third week of January is not more successful.

A nationwide strike would include long distance drivers, loaders, general workers, vehicles guards, storemen and clerks and could severely disrupt the delivery of manufactured goods and equipment, food products and of course the movement of about 90% of containers in and out of the ports. Approximately 60,000 workers would be affected by the strike.

Labour is looking for an increase in minimum wages of 35% and across the board increases of 16% whereas industry is offering 8% for both levels. Labour wants 20 weeks maternity leave with pay and job guarantees, with no counter offer being received from the employers; a cross border allowance of R250 and subsistence allowance of R200 compared with 9% offered by the industry on both items which the union says is equal to just over R44.