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Timeslive reports that according to the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), its members working at the Gautrain on Friday fought back with “the only weapon they have in their possession - the right to strike”.
Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said: “Our members are angry. They have been forced into taking this course of drastic action because management is refusing to pay benefits in line with the wage agreement which was signed last year.” Workers want a R5‚000 housing allowance and 13th cheques and claim these have been outstanding since wage negotiations last year. Gautrain spokesperson Kesagee Nayager said on Friday that 71 employees, namely more than half of the maintenance employees, had embarked on the protected strike. She added that “there is no agreement with the union [Numsa] stating that company will pay workers a housing allowance. The company salary structure already caters for a 13th cheque.” Nayager said contingency plans were in place to ensure that trains were not affected by the strike.
- Read this report by Nico Gous in full at Timeslive
- Read too, Gautrain workers down tools, at The Citizen
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page