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Johannesburg – The petrol strike is expected to continue indefinitely as an agreement could not be reached between unions and employers in a meeting held on Friday.
The strike which started last Thursday resulted in the main petrol depot in Pretoria coming to a standstill, and a number of stations across Gauteng running dry.
“We will continue striking until something happens,” said Jerry Ngosi, of Ceppwawu.
Read: More empty tanks in Gauteng as union set to meet petrol body
“Unfortunately we could not meet each other [halfway]," said Zimisele Majamane, deputy chair of the National Petroleum Employers’ Association (NPEA).
"Nothing has changed, we are still in the same position we were before the meeting.”
Ceppwawu, which represents 15 000 members is demanding a one-year agreement for 9%. The NPEA proposed a 7% increase this year and a consumer price index plus 1% increase next year. The NPEA believes the offer is fair.
Majamane told Fin24 earlier that companies did not have the money demanded by unions.
However, Clement Chitja, head of collective bargaining at Ceppwawu, said that the industry could not “cry poverty”.
“The increments in the CEOs’ salary are such that they can get a 26% increase when they are already earning millions,” he said. “That tells you how well the industry is doing,” he said.
When asked if plans were being made to fill up stations which have run dry, Majamane said: "I cannot speak with authority. But our members have started delivering products to various sites which have gone dry."
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