EL Amcu members join truck driver strike
MORE than 30 truck drivers yesterday downed tools, citing poor working conditions and unfair labour practices.
The drivers, affiliated to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), are also demanding better health coverage from their in East London-based employer, OneLogix.
The workers have joined their fellow union members who have been on strike since last week.
The OneLogix drivers take trucks to different parts of the country.
They are contracted to drive Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Volvo trucks among others.
The disgruntled employees, who were unaware of the strike which started at the weekend, were turned away when they pitched up for work at the West Bank company yesterday.
They alleged that Amcu “forgot” to include its East London union members and only applied for a letter to picket outside their place of employment from today.
Unhappy with their working conditions, the truck drivers staged a sitin yesterday at Eagle’s House in the city centre, demanding that their union representative include them in the national strike.
One truck driver, who asked not to be identified for fear of victimisation, told the Daily Dispatch yesterday that they were told not to enter the premises.
“We didn’t know about the strike and our union didn’t even inform us.
“We are happy to be striking for better working conditions and improved hours but now this means that we won’t get paid.
“There is a lot we are unhappy with because sometimes we would drive long hours and cannot claim that we are tired, but when we make an accident we are liable and likely to be fired or made to pay for the costs, which is not right,” he said.
Mercedes-Benz South Africa spokesman Asanda Fongqo said: “Some of the suppliers of MercedesBenz SA are affected by the current industry-wide strike action.
“Our suppliers have indicated that they are trying to find alternative solutions to keep the impact minimal.”
At the time of writing, OneLogix human resources head Hein Swart could not be reached for comment. — oreillya@timesmedia.co.za