FRIDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 1.30PM
On Friday morning, attendants received threatening phone calls claiming that Assagai Motors would be their target and attendants on duty should beware.
Dave Taylor, owner of the service station said ‘We are trying to get though this strike as peacefully as we can and play the rules to our advantage.’
There has been a deadlock with NUMSA regarding the new offer of 7.5% and the night shift allowance has been prioritised by the union resulting in an increase of violence and intimidation.
According to a statement issues by the Fuel Retailers Association (FRA) an urgent court interdict would be served today in a joint agreement by the FRA and the Retail Motor Industry (RMI) to put an end to the unlawful behaviour of the protesters.
Negotiations are to resume on Monday as the union have adjusted their double digit demands to a level upon which constructive negotiations can commence.
FRIDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 11.30AM
View footage of strikers intimidating petrol attendants at Assegai Motors in Empangeni.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOyLloHp_UM&feature=youtu.be
Update to follow
THURSDAY 12 SEPTEMBER
PEACEFUL protests at an Empangeni petrol station turned ugly on Thursday morning when strikers caused havoc by throwing stones at skeletal workers. Local protesters reportedly ran through Assagai Motors Shell on Rex Henderson Drive hurling stones in every direction, which were aimed at fellow attendants on duty.
The strikers were en route the bus station to join fellow protestors in Durban when the unrest broke out. Clearly breaching picketing rules, owner Dave Taylor said the incident would be investigated and dealt with accordingly.
According to Captain Mbongeni Mdlalose of Empangeni SAP, the owner could open a case of public violence, trespassing on private property, attempted assault or malicious damage to property.
As per the Labour Relations Act, picketing rules include clear prohibition of violent and threatening conduct by strikers.
WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 1PM
THE national petrol strike which commenced on Monday has picked up a slow climax in Empangeni.
With sticks in hand strikers have been making their way to every station in Empangeni protesting against the current standard price of R17.16 per hour which attendants deem as an unfit living wage. Dave Taylor of Shell garage on Rex Henderson drive said “there has been no change in the strike, we are still working on a skeleton staff basis and no one has been attacked or physically harmed yet”.
However residents are not feeling the brunt of the strike as yet.
Motorist Petronella Van Heerden commented “We aren’t affected by the strike as yet, many of the petrol stations in Empangeni are still assisting customers wearing casual clothes” she went on to add “If anything, this strike is affecting the salaries of the attendants striking”.
TUESDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 1PM
THE National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) strike continued today with Empangeni and Richards Bay petrol stations working with skeleton staff.
Staff are at work in casual wear as they fear intimidation from striking petrol station employees.
There have been no serious disruptions reported and motorists have been able to buy fuel in Zululand.
WHAT was anticipated to be a full-blown fuel strike starving petrol and diesel hungry vehicles across the country, turned out to be no more than a ‘civvies day’ for attendants employed by most of Richards Bay’s filling stations.
MONDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 4:00pm
The city’s station managers told the Bay Watch Eyethu on Monday that their staff attended work and continued to assist motorists, even though they insisted in doing so while donning casual wear.
‘They are all here and are carrying on as normal, but we don’t know how it will progress at this stage,’ said Caltex Premium Promenade manager Edwin Schultz.
‘We’ll take this day by day and hope for the best.’
Total Anglers Rod administration manager Tracy Perks confirmed the same circumstances in Meerensee.
‘We have not experienced any problems or disruptions, aside from the fact that most of our attendants refuse to wear work uniforms.’
In Empangeni, fuel station employees were far more fervent protestors.
Shell Rex Henderson Drive owner Dave Taylor said protest action at garages is inevitable.
‘It’s just one of those things – striking in Empangeni makes no difference though when the negotiations are in Johannesburg,’ he said.
Many of Empangeni’s stations are depending on skeleton staff and family of management to attend to customers until the dust settles.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) said more than 10 000 petrol station employees and car dealership workers are currently protesting throughout KwaZulu-Natal.
‘We will continue the strike until we reach an agreement with the employer,’ said Numsa regional secretary Mbuso Ngubane.
Numsa is demanding a R30 an hour pay increase in all sectors by 2016 for workers earning more than R6 000 as well as a night-shift allowance of 20%, and an afternoon shift allowance of 15%.
‘So far, we’ve been offered a 7.5% wage increase, but we are unhappy with this,’ said Ngubane.
The current standard price is R17.16 per hour, which the attendants complain is not a viable living wage.
MONDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 9:00am
LOCAL petrol attendants joining the national strike demanded a salary increase of 200% in Empangeni this morning. Most petrol stations in the region were still operating with skeleton staff in civilian clothing.
Update to follow
