The Chemical‚ Energy‚ Paper‚ Printing‚ Wood and Allied Workers’ Union (Ceppwawu) says it will consider conciliation as the next step in ending the petrol strike.
Chief negotiator for the union Jerry Nkosi said on Monday that internal meetings were under way to decide on a way forward.
“We’ll consider anything in an effort to end the strike‚” he said. He added that initiating conciliation processes had not been ruled out.
This comes as negotiations between Ceppwawu and the National Petroleum Employers’ Association (NPEA) remained deadlocked on Friday.
Ceppwawu members are asking for a 9% wage increase. Employers are offering 7%.
“We initiated a meeting with employers last Friday August 5. They re-confirmed their position of 7% and the status quo of other issues‚” Nkosi said.
Counted among these other issues are the terms of the new wage deal. The union wants a one-year agreement‚ and not the proposed two-year agreement currently on the table‚ according to Nkosi.
The wage dispute has already been through one round of conciliation. In June the National Bargaining Council for the Chemical Industry assigned a commissioner to deal with the matter‚ but a certificate of non-resolution was issued when parties failed to agree‚ Nkosi said.
A notice to strike was issued on July 25 and the strike started on July 28.
NPEA deputy chairman Zimisele Majamane said no further meetings were planned with Ceppwawu after Friday’s negotiations‚ but that employers were available to meet.
Majamane said that NPEA members had indicated that areas in which petrol pumps had run dry have now been reached.
“They are currently able to deliver fuel with minimal disruption throughout the country.”
The South African Petroleum Industry Association tweeted on Friday that the replenishing of service stations was progressing well.
Union considering conciliation in bid to end petrol strike
The Chemical‚ Energy‚ Paper‚ Printing‚ Wood and Allied Workers’ Union (Ceppwawu) says it will consider conciliation as the next step in ending the petrol strike.
Chief negotiator for the union Jerry Nkosi said on Monday that internal meetings were under way to decide on a way forward.
“We’ll consider anything in an effort to end the strike‚” he said. He added that initiating conciliation processes had not been ruled out.
This comes as negotiations between Ceppwawu and the National Petroleum Employers’ Association (NPEA) remained deadlocked on Friday.
Ceppwawu members are asking for a 9% wage increase. Employers are offering 7%.
“We initiated a meeting with employers last Friday August 5. They re-confirmed their position of 7% and the status quo of other issues‚” Nkosi said.
Counted among these other issues are the terms of the new wage deal. The union wants a one-year agreement‚ and not the proposed two-year agreement currently on the table‚ according to Nkosi.
The wage dispute has already been through one round of conciliation. In June the National Bargaining Council for the Chemical Industry assigned a commissioner to deal with the matter‚ but a certificate of non-resolution was issued when parties failed to agree‚ Nkosi said.
A notice to strike was issued on July 25 and the strike started on July 28.
NPEA deputy chairman Zimisele Majamane said no further meetings were planned with Ceppwawu after Friday’s negotiations‚ but that employers were available to meet.
Majamane said that NPEA members had indicated that areas in which petrol pumps had run dry have now been reached.
“They are currently able to deliver fuel with minimal disruption throughout the country.”
The South African Petroleum Industry Association tweeted on Friday that the replenishing of service stations was progressing well.
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