South Africa - Striking Truckers Association Agree A Return To Work
https://nigeriaafrica1.blogspot.com/2012/10/south-africa-striking-truckers.html
About a third of striking South African truckers have agreed to return to work on Wednesday, easing pressure on Africa's biggest economy where two weeks of labour unrest in the transport sector have hit supplies of fuel, cash and consumer goods.
But disputes in the mining sector escalated after Gold One fired the majority of its 1,900 workers at its Ezulwini operation, paralysed since last week by a wildcat strike. Atlatsa Resources said it had also fired 2,161 miners for an illegal strike.
Tuesday's decision by three small transport unions with 15,000 members to abandon the truckers strike puts pressure on the biggest labour group, the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU), which represents about 28,000 workers, to reach a deal and suspend its calls to widen the strike.
Since August, almost 100,000 workers across South Africa, including 75,000 in the mining sector, have downed tools in often illegal and violent strikes that may hit economic growth this year and undermine investor confidence in the minerals hub.
"The three unions advised that they came to this decision in light of the fact that employers have now offered double digits (a pay rise) for the year," an employers association said. It was still in talks with all groups to hammer out a final deal.
The rand, which fell to 3-1/2 year lows against the dollar on Monday on worsening investor sentiment about labour strife, firmed to 8.735 immediately after the news of the three unions saying they will end their walk-out.
SATAWU is demanding annual wage increases of 12 percent for two years - more than double the inflation rate, while employers have offered a total 18 percent pay rise over that period.
"We are willing to compromise on our demands, but only as long as the employers do the same," said Vincent Masoga, a spokesman for SATAWU. Talks with employers were held on Tuesday.
An employers body said last week that the freight industry was losing around 1.2 billion rand in turnover each week. If the protests expand to rail and ports, exports of coal and other minerals would also be hit.
Affected companies include logistics groups Imperial Holding, Super Group, Grindrod, Barloworld and Bidvest.
Tuesday's decision by three small transport unions with 15,000 members to abandon the truckers strike puts pressure on the biggest labour group, the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU), which represents about 28,000 workers, to reach a deal and suspend its calls to widen the strike.
Since August, almost 100,000 workers across South Africa, including 75,000 in the mining sector, have downed tools in often illegal and violent strikes that may hit economic growth this year and undermine investor confidence in the minerals hub.
"The three unions advised that they came to this decision in light of the fact that employers have now offered double digits (a pay rise) for the year," an employers association said. It was still in talks with all groups to hammer out a final deal.
The rand, which fell to 3-1/2 year lows against the dollar on Monday on worsening investor sentiment about labour strife, firmed to 8.735 immediately after the news of the three unions saying they will end their walk-out.
SATAWU is demanding annual wage increases of 12 percent for two years - more than double the inflation rate, while employers have offered a total 18 percent pay rise over that period.
"We are willing to compromise on our demands, but only as long as the employers do the same," said Vincent Masoga, a spokesman for SATAWU. Talks with employers were held on Tuesday.
An employers body said last week that the freight industry was losing around 1.2 billion rand in turnover each week. If the protests expand to rail and ports, exports of coal and other minerals would also be hit.
Affected companies include logistics groups Imperial Holding, Super Group, Grindrod, Barloworld and Bidvest.
