Five unions including the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) and the Road Freight Employers Association (RFEA) have agreed on a 6% increase in minimum wages for general freight and logistics employees as well as those from the sugar cane and furniture removal sectors.
The parties also announced on Tuesday that there would be a 6,5% wage hike for employees across the board.
The national bargaining council for the road freight industry comprises the employer body RFEA and unions Satawu, the Africa Mining and Allied Workers’ Union, the Motor Transport Union, the Professional Transport Workers’ Union of South Africa and the Transport and Allied Workers’ Union.
Cash-in-transit drivers and crewmen currently earning R5 000 per month will get a 6% increment, while those who currently earn less than that will have their wages adjusted to R5 000 per month and bank marshals will receive a 5% increase.
In terms of the agreement, the subsistence allowance will rise by 6% from the current R54 in the general freight and logistics sector.
The bargaining council may see the creation of five chambers including sugar cane and forestry operations as well as motor ferries, although this is subject to agreement by employers.
The parties agreed on a minimum of 8,5% contributions by employees to all funds subject to a reduction of the employees’ contribution to the HIV/Aids fund by 0,5%.
Long distance drivers in the fuel transport sector will now be restricted to less than 12 hours per shift from the previous maximum daily period of 15 hours.
The parties said the agreement, valid for the year ending February 2007, is conditional upon Labour Minister Membathisi Mdlaldlana agreeing to extend it to all employees and employers in the industry in terms of the legislation governing labour relations. – I-Net Bridge