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Johannesburg - Transport workers and their employers have failed to avert a strike over wages which could hit the country's fuel supply.
Talks at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) between the SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) and the Road Freight Employers' Association (RFEA) had "proven unsuccessful", the RFEA said.
As such, the strike Satawu had given notice of would continue on Tuesday at 1am, the RFEA announced on its website. Satawu could not be reached for comment.
Satawu said earlier that a minimum of 30 000 workers will strike nationwide.
The Fuel Retailers' Association warned last week a strike by truck drivers transporting fuel could create problems.
"The infrastructure is under pressure in any event - so a strike will cause chaos," said the association's CEO Peter Morgan.
Morgan warned that petrol stations would run dry and added that Caltex and BP service stations would be the worst hit by the strike.
Most petrol stations had a two-day lead time at most, he said.
Engen has contingency plans should Tuesday's strike by transport workers go ahead, the fuel distributor said on Monday.
"We have contingency plans that we'll put into action if the strike goes ahead... this will ensure that the strike has only a minimal effect on our customers," said Engen spokesperson Bulelwa Payi.
But Satawu on Monday strongly condemned Engen's plans to use "scab labour" to do its fuel deliveries.
"Satawu wishes to caution Engen not to place the lives of scabs at risk just for the sake of maximising profit during the strike," the trade union reiterated.
The statement was the second open warning made by the trade union to Engen since Friday last week.
"Engen should be careful not to position itself as a reactionary force even before the strike begins as they would regret having to deal with the wrath of Satawu and its members," Satawu said.
Satawu is demanding a salary of R6 000 per month for long distance drivers currently earning R4 317 per month.
Employers were offering an overall 11% increase, while the union was demanding 13%, four months' paid maternity leave and a job guarantee on return to work.
- Sapa and Fin24.com