The strike by Metrorail workers will continue into a third day on Wednesday, with management on Tuesday stating it would not renegotiate any wage agreements.
”The company meets with unions all the time,” said Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) general manager Tiro Holele.
”What we will not do is return to the bargaining chamber to renegotiate the wage agreement,” he said.
However, the striking United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) accused management of creating hardship for commuters by ignoring their demands.
”It seems like the company has forgotten its commuters … They don’t want to talk to us,” Utatu spokesperson Pieter Greyling said.
Cape Town businesses on Tuesday reported an increase in employee absenteeism, late arrivals to work and requests to go home early to avoid traffic congestion caused by the strike.
Cape Chamber of Commerce president Jeremy Wiley said: ”When you add these three factors together it becomes clear that the strike is undermining productivity and the cost to business will be enormous. The costs must run to many millions of rands.
”We call on Metrorail and the unions to resolve the matter without delay.”
Greyling called the strike successful, claiming it had forced Metrorail into implementing a ”Sunday schedule” with only half of trains running.
Holele said that the commuter capacity has increased, and in some cases is back to normal. He said Gauteng and Eastern Cape were nearly at 100% capacity and Durban was at 78%.
”Cape Town remains a challenge for us,” said Holele. Cape Town has seen the most severe repercussions from the strike, with capacity at only 31% on Monday. However, Western Cape Metrorail said in a statement that capacity was expected to rise to 43% on Tuesday.
Greyling has accused Prasa of manipulating its numbers and said the percentages were based on the 50% Sunday schedule. ”If only 90% of the 50% of the trains are running then we have made our part,” he said.
But Holele denied this argument and said the percentages were based on normal, weekday capacity and that the improved capacity was a result of Utatu workers returning to work.
Greyling, however, claimed that many workers from other unions were joining Utatu’s strike.
”It’s [the strike] expanding because a lot of the workers from other unions are joining our cause because they see we have a point.”
The dispute between Utatu and Metrorail stemmed from a recent wage settlement that would reduce the amount of overtime workers could claim.
”This will mean that our people could end up earning between R4 000 and R6 000 less per month. These people have been working this overtime for years now, and now the company wants to start limiting it,” said Greyling.
Utatu represents between 2 500 and 2 800 Metrorail workers, including train drivers and most of the administrative staff such as ticket sellers.
Utatu’s fellow union, the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union, was not taking part in the strike.
Greyling said workers at other unions were less affected by changes to overtime rules. — Sapa