Press Statement dated 30 July 2018
More than a hundred of the 250 members of the United National Transport Union (UNTU) working for the Bombela Operating Company (BOC), kicked-off the Gautrain’s first ever strike by singing and dancing in the cold from Midnight outside the Midrand Train Depot in protest against their Employers arrogance against their wage demand.
Employees gathering at the Midrand Train Depot as they where knocking off from their final shift before the strike commenced only to find that BOC already blocked their e-mails and access cards while they were still on duty as part of the Companies lock-out of all UNTU members when the strike commenced.
Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU, says this infuriated UNTU members as the Company only provided the Employees with water and access to toilets at 04:00 in the morning,” says Harris.
To the majority of these members this strike has become much more than just a fight about annual wages. They want to know what their Employer is hiding from them by refusing the Union to have confidential access to its financial statements.
Bombela’s is offering UNTU members an 8.5% salary increase across the board but does not want to pay employees an incentive bonus.
UNTU is demanding the following based on the current global economic recession which has a devastating impact on the daily lives of all our members:
Basic Salary 10%
Housing Allowance R1600
Transport Allowance R800 or Staff card usage for Office workers
NWTS R64 per shift
Night Shift Allowance To be increased by 10%
Medical Aid Contribution 55 employer / 45 employee
Incentive Bonuses R20 000 for all employees.
UNTU represents more than 90% of all BOC employees.
The Media are invited to join the strikes at the Gautrain Midrand Train Depot.
Issued on behalf of United National Transport Union (UNTU) by Sonja Carstens, Media and Liaison Officer