Intimidation distracts from the real struggle of workers says labour minister

By Khanyisa Tabata
16 February 2011

Labour minister Nelisiwe Oliphant says violence and intimidation distracts from the real struggle of workers. Oliphant was responding to reports of attacks by striking truck drivers on non-striking drivers.

Thousands of employees in the road freight industry have stopped working and are demanding a 20-percent wage increase over the next two years.
She says the workers should not act violently as more attention is then on their behaviour rather than their employment issues.

Meanwhile, the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry says the ongoing strike which has entered its third day, is negatively impacting the country's economy.

Petrol stations have started running dry and ATM's may soon run out of cash because of the strike.