Press Statement dated 30 July 2018
The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) supports the strike by the United National Transport Union (UNTU) – an affiliate of the union federation in the passenger rail sector – which represents more than 90% of workers who downed tools at the stroke of midnight this morning for a 10% wage increase and a R20 000 incentive bonus across the board at the Bombela Operating Company, the Gautrain management company.
Bombela has tabled a final offer of 8.5% but is refusing to entertain demands for an incentive bonus. UNTU is also demanding a housing allowance of R1600 and a transport allowance of R800 among others. Efforts to resolve the dispute foundered at the weekend after the company pleaded poverty but refused to open its books.
“The majority of BOC employees cannot afford housing as they don’t qualify for RDP-houses because they earn above the threshold, but the majority don’t qualify or cannot afford a bond to buy a property.
“The earliest shift of BOC starts at 03:00 in the morning, but the employees who have to work these shifts also cannot afford to rent rooms in the mostly upmarket areas next to the Gautrain. The Gautrain runs from Hatfield in Pretoria through Centurion, Midrand, Sandton and Rosebank to Park Station. It also has a route going to the OR Tambo Airport.”
FEDUSA calls on all the parties to return to the negotiating table in order to find a speedy resolution to the impasse and limit the numbers of days that workers - who are daily battered by food and transport inflation - will have to sacrifice for decent wages and better working conditions.
Issued by Frank Nxumalo, Media and Research Officer, Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa)