The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has called on workers taking part in the current strike in the petroleum industry to remain strong and resolute in their demands.

In a statement on Tuesday, the union said their members had been frustrated by employers who were refusing to meet their round of negotiations.

“If the bosses who represent garage employers fail to make an offer, Numsa will embark on a strike action in pursuit of our members’ demands in full support of fuel refineries,” it read.

“Numsa condemns any attempt by employers in the filling stations to use the Chemical Energy Paper Printing Wood and Allied Workers Union dispute, and the non-delivery of petrol, as a pretext to dismiss, or refuse to pay, their own employees and warns that this will be strenuously resisted,” the union said.

This follows a strike started last Thursday that resulted in the main petrol depot in Pretoria coming to a standstill. Motorists in Pretoria and other parts of Gauteng have been battling to find stations with petrol.

Other parts of South Africa have not been affected, as contingency plans have been put in place by petrol suppliers.

The union had warned employers that unless their representatives in the motor sector return to the negotiating table with serious proposals for improved wages and conditions of employment and an agreement is reached, these workers would take strike action in support of the their demands that Numsa’s negotiators had presented.