Wage negotiations an area of concern
KEVIN MAYHEW
A RESTRUCTURING of the Road Freight Association is on the cards, with a task team appointed to coordinate the process and consult with the industry to find solutions to their concerns.
That’s the word from newly appointed RFA CEO Sipho Khumalo who says the process aims to build the kind of organisation that has one hand on the pulse of the industry and another on the heartbeat of government. “The task team will have written clauses to force it to act on all initiatives and report back on their status regularly,” he explained.
The industry is acknowledged for succeeding in its efforts to fight HIV/Aids and for its overloading initiatives.
However, there was a feeling amongst smaller operators and members of smaller companies within its umbrella that its decisions - particularly in wage negotiations and agreements reached with unions - were not taking into account their ability to afford wage increases.
“There is also a view that the RFA should extend its mandate to look after the needs of some ancillary operations that are part of running a road transport business, but not necessarily in the trucking business. This should include small transporters operating bakkies for short haul loads, courier companies and waste management companies.”
The RFA needed to recruit more members from new black-owned enterprises that have not traditionally been members. To meet their needs, an empowerment model for owner-driver schemes needed to be developed and business training streamlined and tailored to meet their requirements.
The sector had lagged on BEE, and this would need to be addressed. The Department of Transport intends concluding many of its initial recommendations by the end of this year.
Finally, the RFA recognised the need to improve its relationship with government in order to provide input on issues affecting the industry.
