Claims by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) that the strike by Metrorail workers is predominantly white were rejected by the Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) on Wednesday.
Fedusa said in a statement on Wednesday that Cosatu’s comment in a Cape Town newspaper sought to undermine the right of white workers to strike.
”More than 50% of the strikers are non-white and Fedusa takes exception to Cosatu’s totally uninformed stereotyping of its affiliates,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, negotiations between the United Transport and Allied Trade Unions (Utatu), the United Association of South Africa (Uasa) and Metrorail management were under way at the Transnet Bargaining Council in Johannesburg.
Utatu deputy general secretary Neels Haasbroek said it has been agreed that a lockout — preventing striking rail workers from entering the premises of Metrorail — be lifted.
”This means there must be light at the end of the tunnel.”
He could give no further indication as to how negotiations were proceeding, but said the meeting would go through the night, if necessary.
Negotiations have been deadlocked, with both parties refusing to budge on their positions, causing a three-day strike that has left thousands of commuters stranded and frustrated.
The unions are demanding a 6,5% pay increase across the board.
Metrorail’s acting chief executive, Lauriette Modipane, has said that the company will stick to its 5,5% pay-rise offer.
”The strike action of Uasa and Utatu members, which has paralysed the Metrorail commuter services, has entered its third day and finally there are hopes that the deadlock can be resolved,” Uasa spokesperson Gerhard Ueckermann said in a statement.
The strike, which started on Monday, has forced thousands of commuters to use alternative means of transport, such as taxis and buses provided by Metrorail.
In Cape Town, Golden Arrow Bus Services on Wednesday asked commuters to be patient during the ”extreme disruption” caused by the strike.
It said it is doing everything possible to help stranded rail commuters.
”However, it is essential for the public to understand that the company’s bus fleet is fully utilised under normal circumstances and there are no extra buses that can be added to the fleet,” it said in a statement.
The best it can do was to run extra trips to and from areas where there is greatest demand.
Metrorail spokesperson Thandi Mlangeni said the company was providing a sturdy service on Wednesday despite the strike.
”The service levels remain high and the situation is gradually returning to normalcy,” she said.
She said when the strike started on Monday, the total number of striking employees was 2 694.
On Tuesday, more than 50% of the striking employees had returned to work, she said. — Sapa