Whites go on strike
Sasol workers question share plan’s racial snub
Sasol has activated contingency measures to minimise potential disruptions to its operations following the start of a goslow by trade union Solidarity on Monday.
Solidarity is unhappy about an employee share scheme which excludes white employees. Sasol said it received notification from Solidarity of its intent to strike.
“Currently‚ parts of our Secunda and Sasolburg operations are busy with planned maintenance shutdowns‚ and activities in this respect continue as scheduled. Planning for these shutdowns is an ongoing annual process‚” Sasol said in a statement.
“We continue to monitor the situation. Our priority is ensuring that all personnel are engaged to ensure safe and ongoing operations‚” it said.
Solidarity CEO Dirk Hermann said the union was satisfied with the protest action‚ which began on Monday with sit-ins and work-to-rule action‚ where employees do no more than is required by the rules of their contracts.
“This is part of the build-up to the full strike in Secunda on Thursday‚ where we will have a large protest. Everything is according to plan‚” he said.
Hermann said Sasol was busy with the annual maintenance shutdown and its workers knew exactly where to withdraw their labour.
“I cannot see how Sasol can say there is no disruption as there is a shutdown.”
Hermann said its 6 300 members were highly trained employees of major strategic importance to Sasol.
“We intend to switch off a different section of Sasol each day by means of well-laid and strategic plans. We have the knowledge and influence to achieve that.”
The ANC said it was deeply concerned about the racist overtones of the strike‚ which it said sought to reverse the gains of the country’s democracy. “Historically‚ Sasol has always had schemes that benefited white employees to the exclusion of their black counterparts,” ANC spokesman Pule Mabe said. “One of the fundamental tenets of our democracy is enabling economic participation by black people as part of addressing historical inequalities.”
Sasol said participants in Sasol Khanyisa Phase 1 were all permanent employees‚ regardless of race‚ tenure or seniority. Phase 2 was for its black permanent employees (African‚ Indian‚ coloured).