Roadfreight strike looks inevitable

The unions have rejected the road transport employers’ final wage offer, and a national truck drivers’ strike is now very much on the cards. According to Magretia Brown, labour relations manager at the Road Freight Association (RFA), March 4 saw a meeting between the Road Freight Employers’ Association (RFEA) and the industry’s four main unions – the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu), the Motor Transport Workers Union (MTWU), the Transport and Allied Workers Union of SA (Tawusa) and the Transport and Allied Workers Union (Tawu). “We had little success,” she told FTW. “The unions rejected our final offer of 11% on the minimum wages and 11% across-the-board (ATB).” The employers’ body then reverted to its previous position of 10.5%. “However,” said Brown, “the unions are still set on an ATB of 15% and a total increase in the minima of 37%, as well as a host of other issues – like higher allowances and introduction of new allowances. “At this stage we are of the opinion that the possibility of a strike has increased substantially.” But, apart from media mumblings from Satawu that March 15 would be the downtools date, the RFEA has not yet received any official confirmation of their intention to strike – nor any date. Therefore, Brown told FTW, the employer body has recommended that members initiate contingency plans for possible future industrial action. “We will keep members informed of the situation and will in due course assist members with regard to strike guidelines,” she added.