Business Times reports that Transnet is heading for a crippling strike after last week's efforts by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) failed to resolve an impasse in pay negotiations.

The United National Transport Union (Untu), which is the majority union at Transnet with 26,500 members, is threatening to take its members on strike if a revised wage offer is not tabled. Untu spokesperson Atenkosi Plaatjie said on Friday the resolution of the deadlock now rested With the CCMA, which has committed to present a revised wage offer by close of business on Monday. “Should no revised offer be forthcoming, Untu will issue Transnet with a 48-hour notice of industrial action. This could potentially result in action commencing on Thursday, in line with the overwhelming mandate secured from Untu's members,”Plaatjie indicated. Untu said it has made the necessary logistical preparations to ensure its readiness for industrial action. The wage deadlock remained unresolved last week despite two senior CCMA commissioners facilitating a three-day meeting between Transnet and Untu, which ended on Thursday. Last Monday, Untu said it had received a “decisive and overwhelming mandate” from its members to embark on industrial action in response to the deadlock. Transnet responded. “Despite the vote in favour of industrial action, we remain committed to resolving the dispute.” Transnet added that its immediate priority, should Untu embark on a strike, would be to ensure business continuity and the safety of its employees and assets.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dineo Faku at Business Times (subscriber access only)
• Read too, Union to strike if no revised offer tabled in Transnet cliffhanger, at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)

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