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Transnet strike set to continue as talks fail
Johannesburg, May 17 (I-Net bridge) - The strike at transport utility Transnet is set to enter its second week after the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) facilitated talks between the utility and unions South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) and United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) broke down on Sunday.
Around 50,000 workers, making up 84% of the total workforce, downed tools last Monday against Transnet.
Transnet’s Acting chief Executive of Transnet Chris Wells said Friday striking workers had caused more than 20 million rand in damages to the group’s equipment.
The two unions, in a joint statement, said that management “effectively walked away from any negotiated settlement … after stating an unwillingness to budge on any item of money substance.”
The union called on their respective trade union federations - Cosatu and Fedusa - to escalate support for the strike.
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If the Government does not come in here very fast, this could escalate to air traffic and ruin the soccer world cup. Now we - the farming community is about to loose a major part of our export income and nobody seems to take it very serious.
There seem to be a Racial issue as well involved at Transnet as as Indian person is targeted by other Racial Groups.
Transnet employees love their jobs and the company they work for.They are the most understanding workforce I have come to know.The executive management at transnet doesn’t care about what these people go through on a daily basis.Money is being wasted by management at transnet.If new locomotives and wagons were bought or mantained effectively that was something.To show that there is a lot of money at transnet R200 million was spend now recently on whom nobody knows.The people who sustain the business(customers) are always at the thoughts of employees but management seem not to worry or care.When trains are robbed enroute its only the train driver,train assistant and the customer’s goods at the mercy of armed thugs during night time while the executives are lying in the cozy arms of their loved ones in highly secured houses.So of all this is asking for a better increase and benefits too much.If transnet clients can support the plight of employees,then transnet management will think with their heads and not think for their pockets only.Striking employees want to see these strike resolved so that goods can be freighted to their needed recepients.It’s not a good thing to see such a bunch of dedicated people being taken for a ride by uncaring management who are only looking after their own interests and not wanting to take the company forward.Lastly no employee can go damage his means of income refering to the issue of sabotage.Train robers know the system so thoroughly that even employees are baffled by how easy it is for them(train robbers)to temper with any thing on rail including the high voltage wires.I say the employees need a decent increase compared to what transnet management is offering.Its a shame to see management resorting to dirty tricks instead of dealing with the issue as it comes.Why use the media to plough confussion amongst employees,that is bad faith.