* Two smaller unions agree to return to work
* Biggest transport union under pressure to follow
* Fuel, consumer good, cash deliveries disrupted
By Agnieszka Flak and Wendell Roelf
JOHANNESBURG, Oct 9 (Reuters) – Some of South Africa’s
striking truckers have agreed to return to work on Wednesday,
easing pressure on Africa’s biggest economy where two weeks of
labour unrest in the transport sector have hit supplies of fuel,
cash and consumer goods.
But disputes in the mining sector escalated after Gold One
fired the majority of its 1,900 workers at its
Ezulwini operation, paralysed since last week by a wildcat
strike. Atlatsa Resources said it had also fired 2,161
miners for an illegal strike.
Since August, almost 100,000 workers across South Africa,
including 75,000 in the mining sector, have downed tools in
often illegal and violent strikes that may hit economic growth
this year and undermine investor confidence in the minerals hub.
Two transport unions with 5,500 members agreed to abandon
the truckers’ strike, but the biggest labour group, the South
African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) which
represents about 28,000 workers, pressed on with the boycott.
Another 9,500-strong transport union denied reports its
members would also suspend strike action, saying negotiations
were continuing.
Continued…
