Wage negotiations between truck drivers and their employers will continue on Wednesday, the Road Freight Employers’ Association (RFEA) said.
”We will begin talks again today at 9am,” said RFEA labour relations manager Magretia Brown.
Negotiations ended without agreement at 9.45pm on Tuesday, the first day of a strike by about 20 000 drivers, which could see petrol stations run dry.
”I suppose that we’re still talking is a positive thing in itself.”
While progress was being made on some issues, it was not on others.
”At least we’re still talking,” she said.
The South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) could not be reached for comment.
Satawu embarked on a strike over wages at 1am on Tuesday. The union wants a 13% pay hike and four months’ paid maternity leave with a job guarantee on return to work.
Employers increased their 10,5% offer to 11%, but revised it downwards when talks failed on Monday.
Metro police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said traffic would be affected in central Johannesburg because the protesting truck drivers would be marching to Beyers Naude Square. They were expected to picket there until Wednesday afternoon.
”Motorists are advised to avoid the inner city around midday because there would be another group of mineworkers protesting in Wolmarans Street in Braamfontein,” he said. – Sapa