DISGRUNTLED Caltex dealers are proceeding with plans to institute a class action suit against US oil giant Chevron Corporation.The retailers, who on Tuesday held a mass meeting to give an update on planned court action, are accusing the company of turning a blind eye to unethical business practices against dealers, some of whom have been trading under the Caltex brand for decades.The move comes as the local arm of Chevron is preparing to dispose of its South African shareholding.The dealers claim that branded marketers appointed as intermediaries between the company and dealers have taken advantage of Chevron’s plan to sell its stake in Chevron SA, with the marketers unilaterally cancelling dealer agreements and selling sites.Mike French, chairman of the South African Chairman’s Council of Branded Marketer Retailers, said: "With Chevron now selling, they are not too interested and the branded marketers saw an opportunity to seize those sites and not to renew the franchise agreement....
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