Happy compromise averts crippling strike

ALAN PEAT IT WAS a happy outcome for the industry and the economy when transport union negotiations averted Tuesday’s (May 31) threatened strike action by SA port workers. The issue was related to this year’s wage negotiations, which faltered when port management’s initial offer was rejected by the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) – which has 8 000 members in the maritime sector and a total of 100 000 members nationally. Satawu had been locked in negotiations with SA Port Operations (Sapo) and the National Ports Authority (NPA) for a few months over wage demands and other benefits. Offers from management moved from 4.5% to 5.5% to 6% - while Satawu demands moved from an initial 10% down to 7%. “As a result 6.5% was a just compromise. We take this as a victory for Satawu as well as workers in general,” said Satawu’s national media officer Ronnie Mamba. Satawu’s national treasurer, Nadeema Syms, was the chief union negotiator – and told FTW that she was “very happy with the outcome”, and that the union members were also happy that they did not have to down their tools. “We conducted our negotiations in a very mature manner and we feel that all parties were happy with the settlement even though it was not the initial request of a 7% increment,” she added.