South Africa
Bad news for motorists
2007-8-6 22:53
Johannesburg - No settlement had been reached on a wage increase in the petroleum sector by 22:00 on Monday.
However, progress was being made and the talks were continuing, said National Petroleum Employers' Association chairman Alfie Ngubo, the chief negotiator for the petroleum sector.
The NPEA and Ceppwawu (the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood, and Allied Workers' Union) began their latest round of negotiations at 20:00.
A week-long strike over wages in the industry has left the country's energy security under threat, forcing Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica to intervene.
It has also seen panic-buying at the pumps, many of which ran dry as fuel companies struggled to truck in supplies.
Ceppwawu officials could not be reached for comment at 22:00 on Monday. - Sapa
SAPA