OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Tuesday 11.00PM.
THE Transport and General Workers’ Union and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union are planning industrial action to protest against a “secret payroll” of the Airports Company of SA’s management.
Nehawu spokesman Allistair Charles said the dispute extended to the failure of the comapny to resolve wage negotiaitons.
He said the unions proposed a three-year strategy to reduce the wage gap between management and workers. Currently the managing director is earning in excess of R700000 annually while workers are earning R22000.
Further, company managers had granted themselves a 14th cheque to the value of about 100% to 150% of their salaries, Charles said. As well, the unions had discovered that the 63 managers were paid from a secret payroll and that they collectively earned 30% of the wage bill.
“Such actions should be declared theft and we demand that the minister responsible for this company ensures that every one of the managers enriching themselves should pay back the money,” Charles said, adding that the dispute could develop into a full-blown strike.
Company spokeswoman Charmaine Lodewyk said on Tuesday evening that a meeting with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration is set up up for August 27 and there will be no industrial action in the meantime.
Meanwhile a dispute between the Transport and General Workers’ Union and the Putco bus company is also threatening to develop into a strike. Union shop steward Thomas Malulwana said on Tuesday night that on August 1 Putco won a tender to service the Meyerton area in conjunction with Vaal Transport Corporation.
He said management agreed at the time that 75% of the workers for the new service would come from the corporation’s ranks and the remaining 25% from Putco. Instead, however, Putco employed temporary workers.
Malulwana said 540 workers at Putco’s Selby depot in Booysens, Johannesburg started a sit-in protest at the depot on Tuesday morning, stranding Vaal Triangle commuters. If management does not honour its agreement to employ 25% of Putco workers in the Meyerton service, the workers will strike.
Management negotiator Jannie Malherbe said a statement will be released on Wednesday.