Unions representing about 85 000 workers at Transnet are considering strike action as management at the parastatal is ”steamrolling” negotiations over restructuring.
”Strike action is being considered. There’s a very big possibility of strike action within the next month,” South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) policy research officer Jane Barrett said on Wednesday.
She said management is avoiding crucial issues.
”They are just steamrolling without proper regard to negotiation. [They are] ignoring of proper procedures that are in place or should be in place.”
She said Transnet is avoiding bringing discussion about moving Metrorail out of the parastatal to the restructuring committee, as it is applying a very narrow definition of restructuring.
Metrorail is to be moved into a new company that will fall under the auspices of the Department of Transport.
”We are not saying that these things can’t be resolved, but they have to be negotiated. We’re not objecting to the new entity … but there has to be protection for the 9 000 workers who are moving across,” Barrett said.
She said Transnet seems to be concerned largely with its balance sheet, wanting to dispose of companies like Metrorail as quickly as possible while ignoring the human impact.
”They’re basically going faster than the restructuring process. We’re saying, ‘Hold on, we’ve got to have all the Ts crossed and Is dotted.’ We’ve had our fingers burnt before,” Barrett said.
Transnet management has made no efforts to resolve the matter since the conciliator appointed to mediate the dispute issued a certificate of non-resolution in late November last year.
The certificate allows unions to give 48 hours’ notice of strike action, Satawu spokesperson Ronnie Mamba said.
”Transnet at the moment are not talking to us directly. They had since November and have made no overtures to set up talks,” Barrett said.
The four unions — Satawu, the United Transport and Allied Trade Union, the South African Railway and Harbours Union and the United Association of South Africa — will hold meetings with their members at every Transnet workplace over the coming week, Mamba said.
Those affected by the dispute include workers at Metrorail, Spoornet, South African Airways, South African Port Operations, the National Ports Authority, Petronet, Transwerk, Autopax, Freightdynamics and a number of smaller business units. Transnet has a total workforce of about 85 000.
Transnet spokesperson John Dludlu said failure to transform the parastatal into an efficient freight-transport company poses a ”real threat” to jobs.
It also threatens the company’s ability to meet the government’s aims of increasing economic growth through investment.
”Where Transnet is selling non-core assets, we are doing and will continue to do everything to ensure that all jobs and employment conditions are protected. We have gone beyond the law to ensure that this is the case,” he said.
Dludlu said Transnet has spent ”considerable resources” to make talks about the restructuring meaningful and inclusive. — Sapa