Members of the South African Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu), the Motor Transport Workers' Union; the Professional Transport Workers' Union; and the Transport and Allied Workers' Union of SA went on strike last week over wages.
Korb said that although Pick n Pay stores around SA had operated normally since the start of the strike last week, he was worried that if the strike continued for another week or two, operations would be negatively affected.
He said that despite the strike, most stores continued to receive 70% of goods with no imminent reports of intimidation.
“We have managed to operate effectively over the long weekend without being intimidated.”
Members of the unions are demanding a 13% wage increase while employers were offering an 11% hike.
Magretia Brown, labour relations manager of the Road Freight Employers' Association (RFEA), last week said her organisation had agreed with the unions on all monetary issues.
She said it was also agreed to address the wage gap on minimums for all grades over the next two years.
Satawu denied the claim.
It was reported at the weekend that the strike had already affected a number of petrol stations across the country with fuel demand picking up and some filling stations running dry.
Shell SA yesterday confirmed it was experiencing supply constraints with respect to fuel deliveries, due to the strike.
The company said that it has put contingency measures in place to mitigate possible fuel shortages.
Brown said the RFEA and the unions would meet today to resume talks to find a solution.
Source: Business Day
Published courtesy of
