A strike by cash-in-transit security guards has been put on hold for now, as unions await assurances from government that their demands will be met, a union representative said on Friday.
Senior members of the Motor Transport Workers’ Union (MTWU) and the major cash-in-transit companies had a ”productive” meeting on Friday afternoon.
MTWU general secretary Emily Fourie said the parties shared their concerns regarding the levels of crime in the country and how it affected the safety of company staff and union members.
However, she said the planned strike, which would leave ATMs nationwide without money and shops with no way to transport their funds, was not off.
She said the union now had the support of the companies, but unless they got assurances from the government that measures could be put in place to ensure the guards’ safety, the strike would proceed.
The union wanted more manpower, better training and the re-design of transit vehicles. They were also considering more firing power.
”We are saying the crime rate is too high, what are we going to do about it.”
The union would meet with National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi on Monday.
During Friday’s meeting, all parties re-affirmed their commitment to doing all that is reasonable and practical in the interest of improving safety of staff in the cash-in-transit industry. — Sapa