BL Premium reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has called on Gautrain operator Bombela Operating Company (BOC) to table a meaningful wage offer to avoid an “imminent crippling strike” that could result in a “total shutdown of services”.
BOC is a private company contracted by Bombela Concession Company (BCC) to operate and maintain the Gautrain systems. Wage talks between BOC and Numsa deadlocked on 9 June and attempts by the CCMA to break the impasse failed on Wednesday, resulting in the CCMA issuing the union with a strike certificate. The certificate was issued after Numsa demanded a 7% wage increase across the board, while BOC would not move from its 4.2% wage offer. Numsa’s other demands included a housing allowance of R1,600 (it is currently R1,300), transport allowance of R150 (R125), night shift allowance of R50 per hour (R38 per hour), and performance bonus of R15,000 (R9,600). Numsa embarked on a 17-day industrial action at Gautrain last year, which culminated in the parties settling on a one-year 6.8% wage deal in July 2024, which expired on Monday. Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said workers were behind the Gautrain’s success and needed to be compensated accordingly. She said: “They need to make a meaningful offer to prevent a total shutdown of services. Numsa further calls on the Gautrain Management Authority and the Gauteng provincial government to intervene and apply pressure on the BOC management to come to the party and put a meaningful offer on the table for our members to consider.”
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page