OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Friday 10.30PM.
THE South African Footplate Staff Association has agreed to suspend its strike of train drivers, ticket collectors and guards which left millions of commuters stranded around the country on Friday, and created chaos on the roads.
The breakthrough was a result of intervention by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration in the stalled talks between the union and Metrorail. Safsa general secretary Chris de Vos said on Friday evening that the suspension was immediate and that the union was trying to get the message out to its members as quickly as possible, so that they could return to work.
“We have been moved by the plight of the commuters and decided to suspend the strike. In return the Metrorail management has also agreed to suspend its lock-out” he said. He expected services to return to normal by Sunday. Nevetheless, he said, the union reserved to option to resume the strike should talks “come to a dead end”. Negotiations through the CCMA were expected to continue on Tuesday.
FRIDAY 7.30PM:
THE South African Footplate Staff Association on Friday afternoon said it has little hope of reaching an early settlement with Metrorail over their wage dispute.
At 4.30pm, Safsa general secretary Chris de Vos said that no agreement has been reached in their meeting at the offices of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, but that participants may end up tussling through the night.
The parties differ over a 3,5% pensionable increase Safsa wants to take effect in September — Metrorail has offered the increase from November.
Metrorail says it would be in bad faith to negotiate a separate deal with a single union — Safsa — having reached agreeement with six other unions.