Threats as Transnet and unions deadlock

THE SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) has threatened a strike at Transnet should a planned conciliation process fail.

Wage negotiations between the unions and Transnet deadlocked with the state-owned enterprise refusing to take its wage offer beyond 0%. Satawu was initially asking for 16% but dropped the offer to 10% across the board.

“We have deadlocked and the matter has been referred to the Transnet bargaining council for mediation. And we will be sitting for conciliation,” said the union’s deputy secretary Anele Kiet.

The union, which represents about 9 000 employees, said it would also be asking for an increase in medical aid contributions, among other benefits.

The union has threatened to go on strike should all attempts to resolve the impasse fail. It says Transnet was using Covid-19 as an excuse not to give an increase to workers.

“We have our members there, we know that Transnet understands what is happening there, this is the only SOE that is stable so the issue that it doesn’t have money and that it’s Covid-19, we know those are lies.”

Kiet said Transnet was spending a huge amount of money paying executives. “They are paying them an exorbitant amount of money,” said Kiet.

A United National Transport Union (Untu) spokesperson, Steve Harris, said: “The current CE0 takes home in excess of around R700 000 a month, if we do go on strike, it will affect the ports and the country’s GDP.” Unions and Transnet will go for conciliation in the middle of May.