NUMSA -Fuel sector turns into a shrine of hope

By Celeste Ganga
1 September 2007

This year, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, NUMSA, has won more than 60% weekly wage increases for the impoverished petrol attendants, in a historic agreement with fuel retailers, government and labour.

“Impoverished petrol price attendants have pocketed the pride of the national fuel retailers, as the industry set off to grant a bonanza of wage increases, “ says NUMSA national spokesperson, Mziwakhe Hlangani.

Department of Minerals and Energy, in conjunction with the Fuel Retailers Industry and NUMSA, have agreed to increase petrol attendants’ weekly wages from R300 to R509, which comes into effect from 5 September 2007, in a move to raise starvation wages in the sector.

“Almost 15 years after resolute work stoppages ,in the struggle for government wage determination, the worst vulnerable sector, was last transformed into a place of sanctity for impoverished petrol attendants, “ says Hlangani.
In the landmark agreement, petrol attendants’ wages will in the coming years, be dependent on a yearly basis on the profit margin adjustment on the fuel, by the Department of Minerals and Energy.