‘National truck shutdown’ looms over hiring of foreign drivers

“South African citizens together with Code 14 qualified truck divers will embark on a national shutdown on Tuesday July 7 2020, fighting against the employment of foreigners in most sectors in SA for a lower wage.

“In Eastern Cape alone, there are over 500 qualified truck drivers who are unemployed while the industry employs over 90% of foreign truck drivers. The citizens have received support from over 1,000 truck drivers nationally who will not drive any trucks from July 7 in solidarity with the unemployed.”

SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) deputy general secretary Anele Kiet distanced the union from any sort of shutdown.

“It has been our stance before and it is still our stance – all issues pertaining to workers in that industry have a platform to negotiate through the bargaining council. We are a member of the bargaining council and could never be the ones who would walk out of that particular structure to call for a shutdown.”

Kiet had previously slammed the government for entering into talks with an “illegitimate association,” such as ATDF.  “As a union representing the majority of workers in the sector, we call upon the association that alleges to be representing truck drivers to register with the bargaining council so as to voice our concerns to a legitimate platform and by so doing embolden the fight against the capitalist agenda that seeks to divide workers.”