While Transnet is disputing the legality of the strike by thousands of its workers over wages, the union is adamant that its industrial action is protected and will continue until the demands are met.
Yesterday, thousands of members of the United National Transport Union (Untu) downed tools after Transnet failed to reach a wage agreement with the workers.
Transnet offered Untu and the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) a 3% wage increase back-paid from April 1. This was rejected by the unions, who maintained that they want a 12% increase for their members.
Untu, which has 34,000 members at Transnet, began its strike yesterday, while Satawu is expected to down tools on Monday.
As the workers downed tools, Transnet said the strike was illegal as there was no picketing rules agreement, no seven-day notice as required and that Untu did not conduct a secret ballot to get their members to endorse the move.
Untu general secretary Cobus van Veeren said after the issuing of the non-resolution certificate, picketing rules had to be agreed upon.
“We have tried to engage with Transnet for us to agree on the picketing rules but they have refused….Transnet employees are not state employees. The Labour Relations Act states in Section 64 that a 48 hours notice must be given, which we did.
“We have balloted our members on the offer and 89% of our members rejected the offer and 83% was in favour of the strike...Transnet is desperate and deploying extremely dirty tactics to try and dissuade our members from exercising their right to strike,” Van Veeren said.
The strike is expected to affect all divisions of Transnet, including rail, pipelines, engineering and ports.
It starts from the lower-level workers such as train driver assistants to just below senior managers.
According to sources at the union, the lowest paid worker earns between R80,000 and R90,000 per year. Using the lower end of the range, a 12% increase could translate to R12,000 while 3% will be just R2,400 per year.
Van Veeren warned that the impasse could have a serious impact on the economy.
“If the Transnet Pipeline remains shutdown, there could be less fuel available in the inland areas like Gauteng. There is a possibility that all the goods that we import will be affected. Everything that comes from the ports to the inland will be affected. Your fuel, fruits and goods will be negatively affected,” he said.
Transnet spokesperson Ayanda Shezi said the latest offer increases the company’s fixed salary base, which constitutes 66% of its operating costs.
“Given the current operational and financial performance of the business, it would be ill-considered to offer unsustainable wage increases. However, given the role that Transnet plays in the economy, it is equally crucial that everything possible is done to ensure that a strike is averted,” Shezi said.
Satawu spokesperson Ayanda Tshemese said: “For them to come and say they do not have money, it is not our problem. Corruption has been happening under their watch. Our members have nothing to do with how they blew Transnet money. The only thing that we want is for the employer to give our members what is due to them.”
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