In the heat of the strike, trade unions at Spoornet claim that more than 2 000 drivers are about to lose their jobs, but management claims that it intends to hire 800 train drivers and assistants.
Unions this week told the Mail & Guardian that Spoornet, Transnet’s rail subsidiary, has mooted the retrenchment of more than 2 000 workers in a move that will see the company save more than R50-million a year. Spoornet employs more than 32 000 staff and is the largest Transnet subsidiary.
An internal document obtained by the M&G from trade union sources this week outlines the proposed plan by Spoornet to close down some operations and reduce the number of employees to save costs. The dossier proposes that there should be one driver per train, which means assistant train drivers would lose their jobs. Transnet head office says the plan is not part of the restructuring now in dispute; Spoornet said “…the documentation in your possession is not from a credible source and does not reflect any approved proposal by the Spoornet Executive”.
Spoornet has about 2 600 assistant train drivers. The lay-offs, according to the plan, will save R50-million a year, though not all the assistant driver positions are threatened.
In 2004, Spoornet made a loss of R220-million. This was reduced to R21-million last year. Previous restructuring plans pivoted on a loss of 27 000 jobs at Spoornet.
Transnet spokesperson John Dludlu said he was not aware of the proposals and that they did not form the negotiating position of Transnet. The document appears to be a record of discussions among Spoornet management. Trans-net says there will be no job losses during the restructuring process, but that it cannot provide “sunset clauses”.
The document also proposes measures such as the removal of staff transport subsidies, reduction of Sunday time by 40%, the elimination of food parcels, enforcement of unpaid lunch breaks, and the closure of terminals.
On Thursday Transnet management met with four trade unions in a bid to resolve the dispute over restructuring.