Port strike 'will sink economy'

The government has stepped in to find a solution to the ongoing transport strike that is threatening to hit the country's ports.

Magretia Engelbrecht-Brown, spokesman for the Road Freight Employers Association, yesterday said Department of Labour officials will hold talks with the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union today.

"The strike is of national importance and it is in the best interests of government to assist," said Engelbrecht-Brown yesterday.

The two-week long trucking strike has already severely disrupted the delivery of fuel, fresh produce and cash in the country.

The strike is expected to spill over to the country's ports.

The union's president, John Dube, yesterday said it had given Transnet notice that it aimed to launch a secondary strike at the country's ports.

"We are waiting for a response to our notice for a secondary strike action and if tomorrow's [today's] negotiations do not yield positive results, a full-scale strike will kick in at ports as well," he said.

Transnet spokesman Mboniso Sigonyela yesterday said: "We are considering the notice and will activate contingency measures to ensure minimal disruption should the action materialise."

But Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO, Andrew Layman warned that if the workers at Transnet supported the truck drivers' strike, it will be "bad news for the country's economy".

He said overseas companies are most likely to ditch local suppliers if the transport strike continues and spills over to ports.

"At present, the port is kept busy handling goods that are being transported by non-striking drivers.

"Some companies have made successful contingency plans to avoid disruptions to their business, but if the port terminals come to a standstill, their operations will be stopped as well," he said.

He said the transportation of imported goods would be disrupted because manufacturers and retailers, who are expecting Christmas stock, rely on the timely delivery of the goods they have ordered from abroad.

"If they can't get them, either their production will be stalled, or, in the case of retailers, they will not be able to get the products on their shelves early enough to get the benefit of their investments."

His comments were shared by Cape Chamber of Commerce chairman Michael Bagraim, who said a possible secondary strike would "starve" South Africa of its "vital oxygen", badly affecting imports and exports from the sea and airports.

"[A secondary strike] will start affecting imported goods, and it will increase the costs of holding and insurance [of these goods]," said Bagraim.

It wants a 12% wage increase, but was prepared to negotiate if employers, including the Road Freight Employers Association, were also willing to compromise.

Union spokesman Vincent Masoga said Satawu was "still mobilising its 20000 members at ports and working in freight rail to begin a solidarity strike on Friday".

"We welcome the government ministers' involvement and we trust that there will be a good decision tomorrow," he said.

"We are not pleased with the current state of affairs."