The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) will “mobilise solidarity support” — including marches and pickets — for the striking road freight sector should its wage demands not be met, the federation said on Wednesday.
“Cosatu demands that the employers bring an improved offer to the table as quickly as possible so that a settlement can be negotiated. But should no acceptable offer materialise, the federation will mobilise solidarity support for the striking workers,” said Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven in a statement.
Craven said this support included marches, pickets and protests. A solidarity strike, however, would be the last resort.
“We hope that it won’t come to that [solidarity strike]; it will be the last option,” he said.
Cosatu expressed its support for its affiliate in the sector, the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu).
Craven called upon workers to “conduct their struggle in a peaceful, lawful and disciplined manner”.
Four unions involved in the strike — the Transport and Allied Workers’ Union of South Africa, the Professional Transport Workers’ Union, Satawu and the Motor Transport Workers’ Union — are demanding a 20% increase allocated over a two-year period, for example 10% in 2011 and 10% in 2012.
The Road Freight Employers’ Association was offering an increase of 7,5% across the board for 2011 and a further 7,5% increase for 2012.
Talks between the union and the employers were continuing on Wednesday.
‘Sisi, this is not a time for journalists’
Meanwhile, there was a large police presence ahead of a march by Satawu members in Johannesburg on Wednesday as the strike entered its third day.
The striking truck drivers wore red T-shirts with their demands printed on the back: “end slavery wage” and “change slavery mentality”.
Many of the truckers carried sticks, sjamboks, wooden planks, and vuvuzelas.