Portnet strikes a deal with unions over R500 incentive bonus

PORTNET says work is back
to normal in Port Elizabeth harbour following an agreement between Portnet and striking unions.
An agreement has been reached with the unions regarding the issue in disupte and all industrial action has been ended, acting port manager Eddie Hill told FTW.
Business is carrying on as normal, he said.
Earlier in the week Portnet management in Port Elizabeth invoked a lockout clause following a go slow that saw container handling rates reduced to four containers an hour compared with the usual 40 an hour.
Transnet spokesman Thami Didiza said agreement had been reached with the unions at a national level for a monthly bonus of R350 to be paid to skilled workers, who had been receiving R500 a month performance incentives.
The payment is back-dated to May this year and is in effect until October this year, by which time the two sides should have reached agreement on a new incentive bonus scheme.
By Ed Richardson