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Johannesburg - Fuel industry workers who are members of
Solidarity have suspended their strike and will return to work, the union said
on Wednesday afternoon.
"Solidarity members of PetroSA will go back to work
today and members of the trade union at Sasol Secunda will resume their duties
tomorrow (Thursday)," said deputy general secretary Dirk Hermann.
He said several issues that remain unresolved would have
to be dealt with at a later date.
"A point is reached in a dispute where a balance must
be found between the needs of the employees, the employers, the public and
South Africa."
He said it was in the best interests of all parties to end
the strike and continue negotiations.
Hermann said the union hoped another negotiation session
would be held before the weekend.
Solidarity joined the strike on Monday in the hope of adding
"a sense of urgency" to wage negotiations in the fuel sector.
Last Monday, 70 000 members of the Chemical, Energy, Paper,
Printing, Wood, and Allied Workers Union (Ceppwawu), the Allied Workers Union,
and the General Industries Workers Union of SA downed tools.
They were demanding a minimum salary of R6 000 a month and a
40-hour working week.
On Monday employers met with the unions, making an offer of
a 10% increase for workers at the lowest level, raising their minimum wage from
R4 000 to R4 400. Other levels were offered 8%.
Earlier Clement Chitja, head of collective bargaining for
Ceppwawu, said by Thursday afternoon the union was likely to have received
feedback from its members as to whether the employers' offer had been accepted.
The fuel shortages accompanying the strike placed the taxi
industry under strain, SA National Taxi Council spokesperson Thabisho Molelekwa
said.
Fuel Retailers Association chief executive Reggie Sibiya
said fuel shortages have already reached critical levels, particularly in Gauteng
townships and central business districts.
KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo are also experiencing shortages.
