Tollgate staff go on strike

Motorists using the N1 South Grasmere Plaza to Free State, N4 Magalies towards Rustenburg and N2 from Mthunzini to Othangathi may temporarily be spared from paying toll fees while workers embark on a strike.

Members of the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) employed by Intertoll Africa, a subsidiary of Group 5, embarked on a national strike yesterday, after Satawu issued a 48-hour notice of strike to the employer on Friday.

Satawu said this was “a last resort to protracted and difficult wage negotiations that started late last year” and that the company failed to implement a negotiated wage deal, which was agreed upon in March last year.

Satawu members at the three tollgates were demanding a minimum wage of R7 000 a month for toll collectors, administrators and cleaners. Intertoll Africa is reportedly offering R3 970. Supervisors are demanding a minimum of R11 000 against the employer’s offer of R7 066. In a statement, Satawu said most workers are currently paid R2 900.

The transport union members are also demanding six months’ maternity leave at full pay, while the group subsidiary is offering them three months at 75%. Their demand for annual leave of 25 days and medical aid cover to be extended to family was not met.

“Intertoll wants annual leave to remain unchanged at 18 days and has flatly rejected the demand for medical aid cover extension,” said Satawu.

“At the root of the workers’ disgruntlement is the disproportionate distribution of the company’s takings. Intertoll workers collected R1.6 billion for the 2016-17 financial year. That year, six executives took home a staggering R18 million each, including guaranteed bonuses of a R3 million a head,” said Zanele Sabela, Satawu media officer.

Intertoll Africa was not available for comment.