The week-long unprotected strike by a few members of the Port of Durban’s berthing staff was still in effect by Friday, January 16 – but fortunately had not had any effect on port activities. Indeed, the fact that there was none of that alltoo- common sympathetic industrial action by fellow port staff would seem to indicate that there was indeed no sympathy for the strikers – who were objecting to the current quad-shift system, and on Monday of that week unilaterally embarked on a three-shift system. Also, Satawu, the usually belligerent union to which most port workers belong, ignored the strikers’ action. Something which indicated either that they belonged to another less-forceful union, or that their claims of shift-system complaint were falling on deaf ears. Whatever, their strike didn’t even hinder ship berthing. Acting port manager, Sibusiso Nhlabathi, informed the shipowners that contingency plans had been put into place, and that “temporary berthing staff was on standby to ensure business continuity”.
