Strikes could hamper ailing economy, fuel supplies
Eskom has obtained a court interdict on Tuesday to prevent employees from the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) to embark on a strike.
POLOKWANE – NUM said members working at Eskom will take part in a full-blown strike in all nine provinces on Wednesday.
NUM’s National Spokesperson Livhuwani Mammburu says the power utility obtained an interdict against the wage strike, which started on Monday. He says NUM is currently communicating with the shop steward council regarding the strike.
NUM called an urgent national shop steward council meeting yesterday (Tuesday) to discuss Eskom’s decision to reconsider its seven percent offer.
After this meeting, the members revised their demand of a 12% wage increase to 10% for the lowest paid workers and 8,5% for the highest paid workers, according to Mammburu. The housing allowance has also been revised from R5 000 to R3 000.
The petrol strike is expected to continue as an agreement could not be reached between unions and employers in a meeting held on Friday.
The main petrol depot in Pretoria came to a standstill last Thursday July 30 resulted in a number of petrol stations across Gauteng running dry.
In a statement, Ceppwawu said its members will continue the strike until they can reach an agreement on the demands with the National Petroleum Employers’ Association (NPEA).
Ceppwawu, represents about 15 000 members and is demanding a one-year agreement of 9%. NPEA proposed a 7% increase this year and a consumer price index plus a one percent increase next year. NPEA believes the offer is fair.
On Tuesday, Ceppwawu stated that it won’t back down on its demands. The chemical worker’s union strike is currently affecting deliveries, no local fuel shortages have been reported yet.
Please inform us if you are experiencing fuel shortages in and around Polokwane.
