The current strike by Transnet workers was misguided and had no clear objectives, Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin said on Tuesday.
He said there had been ”more than enough opportunity” for consultation on the structure of Transnet.
”It is time to move forward to build and strengthen Transnet and not to needlessly inconvenience commuters who only stand to benefit from the new of Metrorail and the funds that will be directed to commuter rail,” Erwin said in a media statement.
Transnet workers who are members of the SA Transport and Allied workers Union (Satawu), the United Association of SA (Uasa), the SA Railways and Harbour Workers Union (Sarhwu) and the United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) are opposed to the firm’s restructuring plan.
Metrorail workers, together with those of Spoornet, SA Port Operations, the National Ports Authority, Petronet, Transwerk, Autopax, Freightdynamics, and a number of smaller business units at Transnet were taking part in the strike in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and the North West.
The labour action, which left thousands of commuters stranded on Monday, would culminate in a march to Transnet’s head office early next month.
”The redesign and improved efficiency of Transnet and its divisions is an absolute priority for this economy. Accordingly speed is of the essence,” Erwin said.
He said it was necessary to make changes, in particular to the passenger services, some of which fell under the Department of Transport and others under Transnet.
”Such an arrangement was inefficient and not in the interests of commuters,” he said.
He said employees of South African Airways would not be affected by its becoming a stand-alone state-operated enterprise under control of his department because it was already operating separately.
”Any pension related matters will be resolved with no impact on the workers,” Erwin said.
”I also made it clear that the disposal of the non-core assets was in the best interests of all … these activities located in Transnet were not receiving attention as they were marginal to the more important business activities of the group.”
Where the activities were important such as those in Transwerk they would stay within Transnet.
Erwin said he and Transnet management had lengthy discussions about the issues with the unions.
”What is really frustrating and not in the interests of the workers is that many of these issues have been under consideration for three or four years.”
Referring to the current strike action Erwin said Transnet management has already made new proposals to ensure more efficient consultation.
”These responded to union documents. Last Friday management indicated that it would agree to mediation and now await a response from the unions. The doors for negotiation and communication have remained open and the proposals made by management included a process with the ministry.”
He said that the restructuring of Transnet would not entail large numbers of retrenchments.
He said some of the projects that form part of the restructuring were important for the national freight system and would provide thousands of jobs.
”These projects are of such critical importance to South Africa that we cannot delay them in any way,” he said. – Sapa