Petrol strike to continute

Petrol attendants affiliated to the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) began a nationwide strike on Monday.

“Everything is running smoothly in Springs and no incidents of violence or intimidation have been reported,” says Captain Johannes Ramphora Springs police spokesman.

At a main route garage, Engen South Main, the owner Krish Ramkuber says it is hectic.

“We have to make use of casual staff and are open 24/7, but due to the strike we open at 6am and close at around 8pm,” he says.

According to Numsa’s general secretary Irvin Jim, workers cannot bear the brunt of the global economic crisis and he encouraged non-Numsa affiliates to join the strike.

“A petrol attendant earns at least R700 a week,” said Karl Cloete deputy secretary general of Numsa.

He adds negotiations with employers, which began at the end of May, deadlocked in July.

“The current hourly rate is R17.16 exlcuding overtime, but Numsa wants it increased to R30. At the end of the day it is the consumers that are going to pay,” adds Krish.

Numsa demanded a R30 an hour pay increase across the board in all sectors by 2016  and a night-shift allowance of 20% of the normal rate of pay.

Capt Ramphora adds a bus picked up petrol attendants at certain garages to take them through to Johannesburg to join a march.

“Although a march has been taken place in other areas nothing has been reported in Springs,” concludes Capt Ramphora.

According to the owner of Engen Casseldale Amanda Grobler, most of her staff are present and things are running smoothly.