BL Premium reports that the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu), a minority union at Transnet that rejected the logistics company’s latest wage offer, says it is weighing its options regarding rival union United National Transport Union’s (Untu’s) decision to accept the wage offer and return to work.
Satawu’s general secretary Jack Mazibuko commented that Untu’s decision to accept a three-year wage deal with Transnet was likely to negatively affect Satawu’s chances of securing above-inflation increases “because the employer will take advantage of the deal”. Workers at the state-owned ports and railway operator downed tools nearly two weeks ago over higher wages. The agreement between Transnet and Untu, whose members represent the majority of employees, includes a 6% increase in year one, a 5.5% increase in year two and a 6% increase in year three, plus increases to medical and housing allowances. The wage deal applies to all bargaining unit employees, including those who are not Untu members. “The agreement [with Untu] does not include a retrenchment clause, so we believe that after the agreement is signed, the employer might start retrenching workers,” said Mazibuko. Satawu, which has revised its wage demand from 13.5% to anything above inflation, is expected to communicate its decision on whether to remain on strike or return to work at Transnet by Thursday. “A wage offer that is below inflation is not what we want, because it means in real terms workers will not see any increases in their salaries ... the increase can even be 8%,” Mazibuko noted.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thando Maeko at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
- Read too, Satawu calls Transnet's wage deal with UNTU a 'betrayal' of workers, vows to continue strike, at Fin24
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page