TRUCK driver Ivan Gopal, who has been driving a 10 -ton truck for the past 18 years, believes drivers like him should be paid more.
The 43-year-old father of three said transportation of goods is what keeps the economy going.
"We work very hard and travel thousands of kilometres for days.
"We deserve more pay," said Gopal.
A road freight strike looms after negotiations between five unions and the employer body, Road Freight Employers' Association (RFEA) , deadlocked on 15 December.
The unions are the South African Transport (Satawu) and Allied Workers Union, the Motor Transport Workers Union, the Professional Transport Workers Union) and the Transport and Allied Workers Union of SA.
Gopal was on his way to Midrand from Durban to deliver goods.
He said he sometimes spends a maximum of three weeks on the road, especially when he make cross-borer travels around Southern Africa.
Gopal says he gets a sleep-out allowance and money for meals.
"I earn R11000 after deductions. I pay for my children's school fees and have recently bought a house for which I am paying a bond," said Gopal.
He said he would be able to afford a good education for his children if he was paid more.
"The unions might fight more. Not everyone can do this job for long," he said.
The unions are demanding a 10 percent increase for 2011 and 2012.
The RFEA has offered 7,5 percent for this year and next year.
The employer body has not received a strike notification from unions.
Satawu general secretary Zenzo Mahlangu said it was a matter of time before a strike notice is issued.
"Our lawyers will be ironing out an administrative technicality and we will take it from there as soon as we are done," said Mahlangu.
Strike looms as trucker pay talks deadlock
TRUCK driver Ivan Gopal, who has been driving a 10 -ton truck for the past 18 years, believes drivers like him should be paid more.
The 43-year-old father of three said transportation of goods is what keeps the economy going.
"We work very hard and travel thousands of kilometres for days.
"We deserve more pay," said Gopal.
A road freight strike looms after negotiations between five unions and the employer body, Road Freight Employers' Association (RFEA) , deadlocked on 15 December.
The unions are the South African Transport (Satawu) and Allied Workers Union, the Motor Transport Workers Union, the Professional Transport Workers Union) and the Transport and Allied Workers Union of SA.
Gopal was on his way to Midrand from Durban to deliver goods.
He said he sometimes spends a maximum of three weeks on the road, especially when he make cross-borer travels around Southern Africa.
Gopal says he gets a sleep-out allowance and money for meals.
"I earn R11000 after deductions. I pay for my children's school fees and have recently bought a house for which I am paying a bond," said Gopal.
He said he would be able to afford a good education for his children if he was paid more.
"The unions might fight more. Not everyone can do this job for long," he said.
The unions are demanding a 10 percent increase for 2011 and 2012.
The RFEA has offered 7,5 percent for this year and next year.
The employer body has not received a strike notification from unions.
Satawu general secretary Zenzo Mahlangu said it was a matter of time before a strike notice is issued.
"Our lawyers will be ironing out an administrative technicality and we will take it from there as soon as we are done," said Mahlangu.
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