BL Premium reports that the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) has threatened to down tools at Transnet if management fails to table a revised offer within the 30-day cooling-off period after a strike certificate was issued.

The state-owned freight rail and logistics company, Satawu and the United National Transport Union (Untu) had been in wage negotiations since May and, after three rounds of talks, the parties reached a deadlock which the two unions referred to the Transnet Bargaining Council for resolution. When the dispute resolution process on 24 and 25 August failed to broker a wage agreement, a strike certificate was issued permitting workers to take industrial action. Satawu’s Jack Mazibuko pointed out on Monday that Untu and Satawu kicked off the wage talks with an initial demand for a 13% across-the-board increase, which was later revised to 12% over three years. He said the employer initially tabled a 0% increase, which the unions rejected The employer then tabled a revised offer of a one-year deal with a 1.5% increase and no back pay. Mazibuko indicated: “If the employer does not table a revised offer during this cooling-off period, we will be left with no other choice but to serve them with a 48-hour strike notice and embark on industrial action.” Untu’s Cobus van Vuuren said embarking on protected industrial action was always a last resort. “However, it is a right that we will exercise unless Transnet provides an offer that is aligned with the increased cost of living, cost of housing, medical costs and, of course, CPI that has increased to 7.8% in August.” Transnet said it remained committed to continuing engagements with Satawu and Untu “to resolve the dispute and reach an amicable settlement”.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)

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