Wage talks in the freight industry have deadlocked. This means road freight operations will come to a standstill today. Trade union, the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) expects 80% of the sector’s 120 000 employees to down tools.

Unions have rejected an 8% wage hike. Prolonged strike action could affect petrol supplies across the country as well as the transportation of food because many of the union members are long-distance truck drivers.

Truck drivers have been threatening to go on strike after several months of failed salary negotiations with employers. Satawu has given notice of plans to strike from today, because of today’s public holiday the stay-away would not take effect until tomorrow, a spokesperson said.

“There is currently a recommended offer by the employers that we are considering, but we hope to check with our membership…. We are going to contact our members tomorrow morning,” the union’s Vincent Masoga told AFP. Masoga said truckers are seeking a 12% increase for 2013 and 2014.

He refused to say how much the employers’ association is offering, but local broadcaster Talk 702 put the figure at 8%. South Africa’s central bank has forecast that inflation will hold steady at around five percent through 2014.

The Road Freight Association of transport employers was not immediately available for comment. A strike could disrupt retail and fuel supply chains in the country, which was swept by violent strikes in its crucial mining sector in recent weeks. – Additional reporting by Sapa-AFP