Johannesburg: Negotiations have deadlocked again in the nationwide fuel strike.
National Petroleum Employers’ Association deputy chairman Zimisele Majamane said its members were trying to make sure fuel was delivered to pumps but they had been advised to put contingency plans in place.
“Wage talks have deadlocked and there is no new date that has been set to continue negotiations.”
However, according to the SA Petroleum Industry Association there was no need to panic about the fuel shortage.
On Monday night the organisation sought to reassure motorists after some filling stations ran dry.
“We would encourage motorists to stick to their normal refuelling patterns,” said Sapia executive director Avhapfani Tshifularo.
He said Gauteng had been worst hit by delays in the delivery of fuel, which he attributed to intimidation by striking workers.
“In all the major hubs we are seeing lot of strike activities but Gauteng, in particular Pretoria, is very bad. We are treating Gauteng as a priority area.”
‘No crisis’
Nevertheless, Tshifularo insisted said there was no crisis.
“Refineries are producing enough fuel,” he said. “it’s just that there is a delay in delivery; when we get the opportunity, we will increase the delivery.”
The Fuel Retailers Association could not be reached for comment.
About 15 000 workers affiliated to the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers Union stopped work on Thursday, calling for a nine percent wage increase and pushing for a one-year agreement.
Chief negotiator Jerry Nkosi said they would keep striking until employers “put something on the negotiating table”.
“The strike is still on,” he said. “We have not had any negotiations since the commencement of the strike. Employers are meeting today, so after today we’ll know when the negotiations will resume.
“Until then, we are staying away. There won’t be any trucks transporting petrol; workers in refineries will also stay away until employers tell us when they are coming back to the table.”
The Star