Transnet confirmed on Monday that wage talks between the transport utility and two unions faltered once again, despite the Commission for Conciliation and Mediation’s (CCMA) involvement.
John Dludlu, spokesperson for Transnet, said attempts by the CCMA to resolve the wage dispute has failed.
“Transnet confirms that attempts by the CCMA to resolve the wage dispute … have failed,” Dludlu said in a statement.
“The company has made a fair and generous offer of an 11% increase on all pensionable earnings.
“The offer, which also provides for above-inflation increases in a range of allowances and benefits, is within the limits of affordability and reasonableness,” said Dludlu.
Earlier, the two recognised Transnet unions, the United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) and the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu), said they would appeal to their umbrella bodies for support in the wage deadlock.
“We want support from the other unions,” said Utatu general secretary Chris de Vos.
He had sent an email to Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) general secretary Dennis George to ask for other unions to join the strike in solidarity.
George told the South African Press Association Fedusa would release a media statement in response on later on Monday.
‘Strike set to intensify’
Meanwhile, Satawu deputy president Robert Mashego said: “We are going the request the intervention of Cosatu [Congress of South African Trade Unions], and even the intervention of the ANC [African National Congress] if needs be, because we believe there is a need for political intervention.”
Utatu, Satawu and the South African Railway and Harbour Workers’ Union (Sarhwu) started a strike against Transnet last week, affecting freight rail, rail engineering, ports, port terminals and pipeline services.
Transnet is offering an 11% increase, up from an initial 8% offer.
De Vos said the unions dropped their demand in talks at the weekend to an unmandated 12%.
But a joint statement by Utatu and Satawu warned on Monday that the strike would continue.
“The Transnet strike is set to intensify with no resolution in sight. Management effectively walked away from any negotiated settlement … after stating an unwillingness to budge on any item of money substance,” said the unions.
Transnet warned on Friday that the “no work, no pay” rule applied to striking workers.
Transnet acting group chief executive Chris Wells said strikers had caused more than R20-million in damages to Transnet equipment and put the lives of innocent people in danger.
Transnet employs nearly 54 000 people. Satawu represents 39% and Utatu 45% of these workers.
An estimated 15% of workers were not striking.
Transnet obtained a court interdict last Tuesday to prevent striking workers from “unlawfully interfering with business or activities of Transnet”.
Thirteen people were arrested for public violence and intimidation during the Satawu workers’ strike in Durban last Monday.
A petrol and diesel train derailed last week in an apparent sabotage by striking workers, causing a 10 000 litre diesel spillage. — I-Net Bridge, Sapa