Cops: Freight workers strike peaceful

2011-02-15 19:14

Johannesburg - Hundreds of striking workers from the freight industry gathered in the Johannesburg central business district on Tuesday as part of their ongoing wage dispute with the Road Freight Employers Association (RFEA), Gauteng police said.

Captain John Maluleke said the protesters began gathering around 11:00 and would disperse around mid afternoon.

"It’s peaceful so far... they shout when they see trucks driving past."

Police were monitoring the situation.

Earlier on Tuesday a 55-year-old man was severely injured after his freight truck was attacked, allegedly by striking workers.

Ekurhuleni metro police spokesperson Inspector Mveli Nhlapo said the trucking crew was attacked along Nile Road in Olifantsfontein before midday.

The truck was stoned and the crew beaten.

The 55-year-old man was taken to the Tembisa Hospital with severe injuries.

Knobkerries, bricks, golf clubs

Two other trucks were burned in Olifantsfontein and another near Tembisa.

Nhlapo said the drivers of the three trucks may have fled for their safety because they were not found near the trucks.

The SABC reported that picketing SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union members attacked a poultry truck in Salt River.

The report said the group of about 100 people brandished knobkerries, bricks and golf clubs, blocked a street and smashed the windows of the truck. They then chased the two drivers.

Striking freight unions were on Tuesday meeting their employers to resolve a wage dispute leading to countrywide industrial action.

Four people were injured when police fired rubber bullets on protesters in downtown Johannesburg on Monday, during a demonstration by truckers who attacked non-strikers and damaged their vehicles.

Union denies involvement

The four unions involved in the strike included the Transport and Allied Workers Union of SA, the Professional Transport Workers Union (PTWU), the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union, and the Motor Transport Workers Union (MTWU).

PTWU general secretary Reckson Baloyi said he was not aware of the incidents and added that members were told to refrain from intimidating non-striking workers.

"We don't believe that people will be harassing other people," he said.

The unions are demanding a 20% increase allocated over the same two year period, for example 10% in 2011 and 10% in 2012.

The RFEA was offering an increase of 7.5% across the board for 2011 and a further 7.5% increase for 2012.

All four unions said they would negotiate on the 10% increase, but would not easily go below 8.5%.

The National Union of Metal Workers of SA on Tuesday expressed its support for workers in the ongoing industrial action.

"These demands are consistent with the electoral commitments of the ANC government of creating decent work and building sustainable livelihoods."

It called on the workers to "intensify their action" and on employers to "concede to the legitimate demands of workers".


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