Reduced train service on Friday

A NATIONWIDE protest planned by the Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) and its affiliated union, the United National Transport Union (Untu), would have a major impact on the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s Metrorail commuter service on Friday, Prasa spokesperson Nana Zenani said yesterday.

Zenani said while the mass action could have a major impact on the service, “Prasa is planning to run a reduced service in the form of a Saturday or Sunday service timetable. This will depend on the demand and availability of Safety Critical staff to operate the service”.

She said Prasa recognised that Friday’s mass action was not a labour strike against Prasa but a Fedusa-led mass action against government along with its affiliated union Untu as the majority union at Prasa.

Zenani said updates on service availability would be communicated on a regular basis .

Unions reached an amicable solution and a progressive way forward, after lengthy discussions and efforts, and were awarded permission to hold a strike and to stage a protest march on Friday, which they are calling a “national day of protest”.

The unions said the protest action is to force President Cyril Ramaphosa to assist with providing a safe and reliable passenger rail service.

Untu general secretary Steve Harris said Ramaphosa was gambling with the lives of people.

“Prasa has been allowed to ignore a judgment the Constitutional Court made in 2015, according to which trains are not allowed to have open doors while in motion.

“The court ruled that any operator who allows this to happen is guilty of criminal negligence and must be prosecuted,” Harris said.

Fedusa’s media and research officer Frank Nxumalo said: “The strike is against extremely poor and dangerous Metrorail passenger train services, that continue to violate all health and safety provisions as seen by perpetually late trains, deliberate acts of arson and endless fatal accidents that have left many families traumatised.”