Today's Labour News

The Citizen reports that the Motor Transport Workers Union (MTWU) say its members in the Cash-in-Transit (CIT) sector are worried about their safety as the number of attacks on money vans has increased.

The union has threatened to go on a national strike if the CIT companies do not agree to honour a demand to have a third person travel with the two who normally transport money around. Union spokesperson Musa Tshabalala said attacks on CIT workers had reached alarming levels: “If you look at the current situation in our country, once a week there are CIT vehicles that are being bombed, there is a CIT vehicle that has been robbed, and there is a member who is being injured. This is about the safety of our members that are not protected on the current two-man trip.” According to Tshabalala, a third guard in the vehicle would be able to escort another CIT official who has the cash while another one remained in the van. He said while CIT workers were offered bulletproof vests and guns, that was not enough. “MTWU wants to finally place on record to its members and the public that the Employers ‘Associations representing the CIT companies must agree to the proposed turnaround strategies and mechanisms advocated for, to advanced and implement them, as these measures will undoubtedly mitigate the spike of cash-in transit and the associated risk,” Tshabalala indicated. The union is expected to announce dates for the commencement of the strike this week. Tshabalala warned that malls, ATMs and the taxi industry would be affected should unions in the sector go on strike.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Itumeleng Mafisa at The Citizen

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