Violence by striking security guards was doing harm to the good name of the South African Trade and Allied Workers’ Union, it said on Wednesday.
”It also frustrates us, because this is a big movement and we’ve worked hard to build a particular name,” spokesperson Ronnie Mamba said.
”So when in just a few weeks all the good work goes down the drain, it’s worrying.”
His comments follow the murders of six men who were thrown from a train in Benoni on Tuesday. North Rand police said there was a possibility the incident could be linked to the security guard strike.
Mamba said Satawu would cooperate with the police investigation.
The union had committed itself to protesting peacefully and was concerned about members defying leaders.
”When you have a particular modus operandi to protest peacefully, and when it is breached consistently, you cannot but worry.”
Despite appeals to its members, the union was also frustrated by people not coming forward to expose those who were responsible for violence during its protests.
”Unfortunately we have not had many people come forward. It seems people are not finding it easy to talk to us.”
Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana on Wednesday urged Satawu and employers to continue talks. Satawu was still striking for an 11% wage increase. A group of 14 other unions last month settled for an 8,3% increase.
Mdladlana said he had instructed the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to help resolve the matter.
The CCMA was persuading both parties to take advantage of provisions in the Labour Relations Act (LRA), he said in a statement from Cairo, where he was attending a labour commission.
”Section 150 of the LRA allows the CCMA to offer assistance in instances where the resolution of the strike is of national interest.” – Sapa