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Johannesburg - Trade union federation Cosatu will "mobilise solidarity support" - including marches and pickets - with the striking road freight sector should their wage demands go unmet, it 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.
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 SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu).
More violence was reported as the freight strike entered its third day on Wednesday.
Four taxi passengers were seriously injured when a truck crashed into their vehicle while its driver was trying to get away from strikers on the East Rand, metro police said.
Ekurhuleni metro police spokesperson Mveli Nhlapo said four passengers in the taxi were seriously injured and some may need to have limbs amputated after the accident near Oakmore station.
They were rushed to the Tembisa Hospital for treatment. At the Kaalfontein Station, also on the East Rand, two trucks were stoned. When the driver fled, the attackers opened the truck and looted its cargo of fresh produce, including meat.
A bakkie carrying liquor was also looted after it was attacked, allegedly by striking workers in Kempton Park on Wednesday morning.
An estimated 65 000 workers downed tools on Monday over annual wage increases.
Four unions involved in the strike - the Transport and Allied Workers Union of SA, 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.
Meanwhile, transport workers were gathering in Johannesburg for a protest march to highlight their issues.
"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.
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 SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu).
More violence was reported as the freight strike entered its third day on Wednesday.
Four taxi passengers were seriously injured when a truck crashed into their vehicle while its driver was trying to get away from strikers on the East Rand, metro police said.
Ekurhuleni metro police spokesperson Mveli Nhlapo said four passengers in the taxi were seriously injured and some may need to have limbs amputated after the accident near Oakmore station.
They were rushed to the Tembisa Hospital for treatment. At the Kaalfontein Station, also on the East Rand, two trucks were stoned. When the driver fled, the attackers opened the truck and looted its cargo of fresh produce, including meat.
A bakkie carrying liquor was also looted after it was attacked, allegedly by striking workers in Kempton Park on Wednesday morning.
An estimated 65 000 workers downed tools on Monday over annual wage increases.
Four unions involved in the strike - the Transport and Allied Workers Union of SA, 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.
Meanwhile, transport workers were gathering in Johannesburg for a protest march to highlight their issues.
