Petrol stations will run dry if a strike by the SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) goes ahead, the Fuel Retailers' Association said on Wednesday.

"The infrastructure is under pressure in any event ? so a strike will cause chaos," said the association's CEO Peter Morgan.

He said that Caltex and BP service stations would be the worst hit by the proposed 7 April strike.

"And unfortunately we're not even part of the negotiations ? Satawu are negotiating with the Road Freight Association," he added.

Morgan warned that if the strike occurred ? and if oil companies could not find drivers for their trucks ? chaos would ensue.

"There'll also be a change in motorists' buying behaviour for sure --South African motorists know about these problems as we've had them before."

Morgan said most petrol stations had a two-day lead time at most.

In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Satawu confirmed that its national protected strike would commence on April 7 as its wage dispute with the Road Freight Association remained unresolved.

"Satawu has been party to attempts and last ditch efforts to avert a national strike regrettably this has come to naught.

"The strike will involve a minimum of 30,000 workers nationally," the union said.

The union could confirm that some progress had been made between the parties particularly with regard to the increase in the minimum for general workers from R2509 per month to R3000 per month.

However, major obstacles remained.

Satawu said long distance drivers were currently earning R4317 per month while the union demanded R6000 per month for these workers.

Furthermore the across-the-table offer by employers stood at 11 percent while the union demanded 13 percent.

The union was also demanding four months' paid maternity leave plus a job guarantee on return to work.

Satawu called on all its members and strike committees to intensify preparations for April 7 2009 "to induce a favourable settlement that will advance the interests of workers."

Satawu also called on members of all other unions in the industry to join it in the strike.

However, it said it was prepared to participate in a meeting at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) on Monday April 6.

The Road Freight Association's labour relations manager Magretia Brown said the association had met with the union on Monday and Tuesday.

"But we've had no joy ... however, there is a meeting set up with the CCMA on 6 April," she said.

She added that she hoped the CCMA would bring both parties closer to an agreement.

"The problem is that Satawu is asking for a wage hike of 37 percent when it comes to the long distance drivers ? and we can't afford it.

"We've offered to phase in the hike they requested over 24 months and we started talking about it ... it could have worked," she said.

Brown confirmed that the current wage offer across the board to Satawu amounted to an increase of 11 percent.