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Johannesburg - The majority union in the petroleum sector is hindering attempts to end the strike affecting fuel deliveries, the industry said Friday.
The Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood, and Allied Workers' Union (Ceppwawu) had indicated it was only prepared to continue talks on Monday, SA Petroleum Industry Association (Sapia) executive director Avhapfani Tshifularo said in a statement.
The other three unions, Solidarity, SA Chemical Workers Union and the General Industries Workers' Union of SA had all agreed to meet industry representatives and an independent negotiator on Saturday.
"The original meeting, scheduled for July 16 [Saturday], has now been aborted, and the impact of resuming negotiations on July 18 will potentially mean that the strike will be protracted beyond that day, causing further delays on supply of fuel to regions," Tshifularo said.
Sapia was doing "everything possible" to limit the impact of the strike.
"However, it is extremely disappointing that Ceppwawu is not willing to explore the opportunity of resolving the matter as soon as possible."
The strike in the petroleum industry entered its fifth day on Friday. Union members wanted a minimum R6 000 a month salary and a 40-hour working week.
Sapia's members were under pressure as intimidation remained an issue.
"This impacts on the ability of the member companies to move trucks in and out of depots, which in turn makes it difficult to get product to the service stations," it said in a statement earlier on Friday.
Affected areas in Gauteng included Alrode, Waltloo, Langlaagte, Germiston and Mamelodi. The number of garages facing shortages was changing by the hour.
The Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood, and Allied Workers' Union (Ceppwawu) had indicated it was only prepared to continue talks on Monday, SA Petroleum Industry Association (Sapia) executive director Avhapfani Tshifularo said in a statement.
The other three unions, Solidarity, SA Chemical Workers Union and the General Industries Workers' Union of SA had all agreed to meet industry representatives and an independent negotiator on Saturday.
"The original meeting, scheduled for July 16 [Saturday], has now been aborted, and the impact of resuming negotiations on July 18 will potentially mean that the strike will be protracted beyond that day, causing further delays on supply of fuel to regions," Tshifularo said.
Sapia was doing "everything possible" to limit the impact of the strike.
"However, it is extremely disappointing that Ceppwawu is not willing to explore the opportunity of resolving the matter as soon as possible."
The strike in the petroleum industry entered its fifth day on Friday. Union members wanted a minimum R6 000 a month salary and a 40-hour working week.
Sapia's members were under pressure as intimidation remained an issue.
"This impacts on the ability of the member companies to move trucks in and out of depots, which in turn makes it difficult to get product to the service stations," it said in a statement earlier on Friday.
Affected areas in Gauteng included Alrode, Waltloo, Langlaagte, Germiston and Mamelodi. The number of garages facing shortages was changing by the hour.
