Unions whose members started striking at Transnet on Monday over restructuring at the parastatal said the process had to be conducted with the proper participation of unions.
”There’s been a credibility problem with management, they’ve conducted themselves in an arrogant, imposing and unilateral manner,” said SA Transport and Allied Workers Union spokesperson Randall Howard.
He said the unions were not prepared to deal with management that had reduced labour to a ”non-entity” at the negotiation table.
The four unions involved were expecting about 10 000 workers in the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal to participate in the strike.
”The key areas affected are the Durban and Richards Bay ports, where we’re expecting close to 100% participation,” Howard said.
Another area of disagreement was that Transnet had imposed a timeline of 18 months on the restructuring, with unions saying it needed to be given twice as much time.
Metrorail used buses to take commuters to their destinations on Monday, he said.
Spokesperson Thandi Mlangeni could not be reached to confirm this.
The United Transport and Allied Trade Union said unions that wanted to hold talks with Transnet were not opposed to the restructuring.
”We are in agreement that there will be changes. They’re just not informing us: ‘This is what Parliament has told us, this is what the shareholders have told us’. There’s been no meaningful consultation,” said spokesperson Chris de Vos. – Sapa