The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) could later this week bring the country to its knees if they carry out their threat to strike.

The union, which held its special Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting in Benoni at the weekend, yesterday said it supported the leadership of the ANC for a second term.

Road Freight covers truck drivers and if the union goes on strike it might affect the delivery of goods such as petrol.

The union said it was demanding a 12% salary increase and that administration staff working in the sector be represented by the unions. The employer was offering 7% and refusing the latter demand.

Zenzo Mahlangu, general secretary of Satawu, said: “The road freight employers association has become a serial perpetrator of intransigence and its imperviousness to decent boardroom negotiations will bring it to its knees in the following week as our members embark on a nationwide strike protect action.”

Mahlangu said the union would be joined by other unions in the sector and would ensure that the strike is affective.

He rejected suggestions that former union president Ephraim Mphahlele resigned from his post. Mahlangu insisted Mphahlele was kicked out of the union.

“Mphahlele did not resign, he chickened out to avoid the special CEC’s investigation into his conduct,” said Mahlangu.

He said they rejected Mphahlele’s resignation, expelled him and took away his membership.

Mahlangu accused Mphahlele of recruiting for the newly formed National Transport Allied Workers Union, which he described as “nothing but a product of rebels, renegades”, he said.

He said Natawu was not a threat as it targeted only a few companies.

 

 

 

Source: http://www.thenewage.co.za