GroundUp reports that Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) employees - or at least some of them - will embark on a one-day strike on Friday.  

The United National Transport Union (Untu) said it would hold marches in several cities "to fix our trains", adding it had several concerns mostly relating to the safety of employees in an environment where Metrorail security had broken down.  The National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) has granted Untu’s umbrella federation, Fedusa, a Section 77 certificate to proceed with the strike.  Fedusa and Untu have enumerated a number of concerns, foremost among them is that whereas workers have the right to a safe working environment, employees have been murdered and injured because of a lack of security at Metrorail.  They also maintain that Prasa needs more manpower and senior positions need to be filled to ensure "accountability and quality overall performance".  Fedusa has also called for the SA national Defence Force (SANDF) to be deployed to "safeguard platforms for commuters".  Matthew Hirsch of commuter activist group #UniteBehind said the organisation was sympathetic to Untu’s call for safe trains.  But he added that it did not support the call for the SANDF to be deployed at stations because "we don't believe this is a long-term solution and it could have serious implications".  A Prasa spokesperson said they would ensure contingency plans were in place so that the strike did not affect operations.

• Read the full GroundUp report on the above at News24
• Read a joint Fedusa/UNTU press statement at SA Labour News

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page