Unions confirmed on Friday that Transnet’s sale of Metrorail has been delayed by a month, averting a threatened four-day nationwide strike next week by workers.
”It’s definitely been postponed to May 1,” said United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) general secretary Chris de Vos.
Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin on Thursday helped unions to persuade Transnet to delay the move.
This will allow the company and unions to attempt to resolve the fate of workers’ pensions and other issues.
”In principle we agree [to the transfer of Metrorail and other business units out of Transnet],” United Association of SA (Uasa) spokesperson Gerhard Ueckerman said on Friday.
”We are not trying to be difficult, we’re just trying to protect our members.”
Negotiations between the parties fell apart at the weekend when Transnet management announced it had signed a sale agreement with the Department of Transport’s SA Rail Commuter Corporation effective from April 1.
SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) president Ezrom Mabyana told Transnet chief executive Maria Ramos on Monday it was disturbing that the sale agreement had been signed.
”How can you, Maria, sign an agreement we know nothing of and that we have not agreed to? We sent six to eight memoranda to your office without getting any response. Now we want answers,” he said.
Erwin’s spokesperson Gaynor Kast said delaying Metrorail’s sale was made in consultation with Transnet.
”This whole process has always been in consultation with Transnet.”
She said unions would meet representatives from the departments of public enterprises, transport, and finance on Monday afternoon.
They would be presented with proposals on resolving the ”more thorny” issues, including worries over pensions.
Kast described talks between Transnet and unions as ”very amicable, very mature”.
”Everybody’s been very adult about it. Ultimately they all realise that in order for Transnet to play a more meaningful role in the economy, it needs to be restructured.”
Uasa’s Ueckerman said workers’ conditions of employment benefits still needed to be discussed.
”Many of the guys got a housing loan on their pension funds and once you move [to another employer] you get taxed. Those people will lose a lot of money should they cease the existing pension fund,” he said.
He said the suspension of the sale of Transnet’s bus operator Autopax was ”excellent news. It’s all about protecting jobs,” he said, but could not say how many workers were affected.
Unions said Ramos’ reply to unions on Tuesday had sent mixed signals.
”She sends mixed signals, ‘yes, I’m prepared to listen to you’, but also arrogant and not give-and-take,” said Utatu spokesperson Steve Harris.
In her response to a memorandum from unions, Ramos said the company was willing to negotiate, where possible, additional ”protections” for employees leaving Transnet, providing this did not jeopardise getting rid of those business units.
She said they would continue working with unions on ways to safeguard pensions.
Responding to charges of unilateral decision-making and arrogance of the Transnet Restructuring Committee, Ramos said: ”Transnet believes it has consulted in good faith on the organisation’s restructuring generally, and on its impact on employees in particular.”
She said Pradeep Maharaj would not be removed as the company’s chief negotiator, as unions had demanded.
”I have no doubt that the unions would object vehemently to any suggestion from management that individual labour representatives be excluded from consultation processes,” she countered.
Utatu’s Harris said that following Monday’s meeting they would have a clearer indication of the road ahead.
Further talks between unions, Ramos and her executive team are also expected on or around March 22.
Along with Utatu, Uasa and Satawu, also involved in the dispute was the SA Railways and Harbour Workers’ Union. – Sapa