News24 reports that with last week’s limited rail routes and frustrated commuters, the Gautrain and the United National Transport Union (Untu) have agreed to head to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to try to resolve the strike.  

Untu is demanding a 10% basic salary increase, a transport allowance of R800, a housing allowance of R1,600 and incentive bonuses of R20,000 for all employees.  The Bombela Operating Company (BOC), which runs the Gautrain, is offering 8.6% across the board raises.  The union has welcomed the CCMA’s intervention, saying its members and families were suffering as a result of the no-work, no pay principle.  The strike entered its fifth day on Friday and the Gautrain, which ran limited operation during peak periods last week, suspended the service for the weekend.  Spokesperson for the Gautrain, Kesagee Nayager, confirmed that the company had accepted the offer of assistance by the CCMA and they were available to meet.  The BOC said it was concerned by the potential loss of income by their employees and called on union members to consider their offer, which remained open.  The Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) on Friday called on Transport Minister Blade Nzimande to “urgently intervene” in the wage impasse.

• Read this report by Tehillah Niselow in full at Fin24
• Read too, Untu says accepts CCMA’s offer to help resolve Gautrain wage dispute, at Engineering News

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