Strike’s effects yet to hit hard in Polokwane
The strike started on Monday and was still ongoing by the time of going to print
A double-digit wage increase and no more use of the services of labour brokers is what 70 000 striking motor-industry workers who are members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), are demanding.
The strike started on Monday and was still ongoing by the time of going to print. According to Fuel Retailers’ Association (FRA) Limpopo representative, Wayne Giddes, a 7% increase was being offered but the union was not budging. While protests had turned violent in some parts of the country, this was not the case in Polokwane. Workers who did not wish to strike, went to work in civilian clothes to avoid intimidation and confrontations with workers who were on strike.
One filling station employee, who wished to remain anonymous, said he and his co-workers made an agreement with their employer for better wages and did not wish to go on strike. “He will look after us because if we do not work he will be losing money,” he reasoned.
Mokone Shell owner, Mokone du Preez, said they were heavily affected by the strike and had replaced most of their employees with temporary staff. “We made arrangements for both the safety of our employees and customers at our filling stations and there are safety measures in place to help with any situation that may occur,” Mokone said.
He said he received by-the-minute reports and he was not aware of any intimidation or violence taking place. “The police are on call and an arrangement has been made with the police to prevent the strikers from coming closer than 50 metres to any filling stations,” he said.
Review spoke to filling station owners in Polokwane. Fontana filling station said they were not badly affected, because they already agreed to pay their workers more.
MGM Motors said they were also not badly affected, because their shop stewards were on strike on behalf of the other workers.
BP Limpopo Toyota said the strike did not have an impact on them, because they do not have many Numsa members in their employ.
Numsa members, especially fuel-pump attendants and vehicle-repairs employees, this week vowed to intensify the strike and continue striking indefinitely. However, residents said they had not really been affected by the strike and were able to fill up when needed.
Motorist, Jaco Duvenhage, said he thought the strike could become a problem when fuel needed to be delivered to filling stations and the drivers of the delivery tankers were on strike.
According to a press statement released by Numsa national spokesperson, Castro Ngobese on Tuesday, if both the FRA and Retail Motor Industry Organisation were willing to settle or resolve the strike, they should meet with Numsa yesterday (Wednesday) and today (Thursday) with serious offers to resolve the strike.
“We have consistently stated our principled commitment to meet with them provided they give us a decent wage offer we can take to our members,” he stated.
