Exclusive SA Railway and Harbour Workers Union spokesman Sydney Makhuba, David Rankoa and Daniel Maduwa speak frankly about affirmative action, privatisation, and their dreams for CX in the years ahead.
FTW: What until now have been the major issues your union has fought? Sarhwu: If I may answer very diplomatically, that is a very big and very vague question. I would prefer to compare this with government. In government we have the capitalists and the government which is there to facilitate a fair deal between the money-makers and the workers. In between there's a line where both people come together in negotiation.
There's a similar thing with unions. Unions are there to negotiate a fair deal between workers and management.
FTW: How has that worked within CX? Sarhwu: We have put our problems on the table. Top management has been prepared to come down to the level of the workers which has facilitated dialogue.
FTW: How has the idea of the CX Bosberaad worked and what are the questions discussed at these meetings? Sarhwu: At the Bosberaad it's no longer a question of management fighting the workers or workers fighting management. It's a question of jointly fighting the problems.
FTW: What are some of the problems that you have managed to solve at these Bosberaads - are wages and working conditions, for example, on the agenda? Makhubu: Our core aim is to achieve greater insight into the company and where it's headed and that insight we can pass on to the people at the negotiating level.
FTW: There seems to be far greater co-operation between the union and private cartage operators. How has this been achieved? Sarhwu: As far as private cartage operators are concerned, it's still a problem to us, but we are bound by the recommendations of the Minister of Public Enterprises. But for the people themselves it's not acceptable. We also don't believe that the owner-driver concept is working.
To page 11 FTW: Do you feel that affirmative action is working to the benefit of CX? Sarhwu: It's not working well yet because we're still in the process of implementing some of the proposals.
We don't see resistance to affirmative action as a problem. It's a question of understanding that it can't happen overnight - that it will take time. We're all coming from different cultures, different political backgrounds - the problem is to understand and accept.
FTW: There's a general feeling that white CX staff is very uncertain and that morale is low. What is your message to them? Sarhwu: We don't believe that there are many people who feel that way because with things like the Bosberaad we have tried to resolve those sort of problems.
We understand each other and we talk to each other.
It's important for them to understand what affirmative action is. In the past whites were given all the advantages and opportunities. We want to balance that, which is not to say let's stop giving you what you had, but rather to also give us a chance.
We have never said we have to drive our white colleagues into the sea. We say come let us share.
FTW: What are the feelings of the unions regarding the R900 000 per annum packages being paid to Transnet executives.
Sarhwu: That question should be referred to our head office. We can't comment as representatives of the branch.
FTW: What are your views on the long-term effects of strikes on the economy of the country and ultimately on overseas investment if South Africa is perceived to be a non-starter in the productivity stakes? Sarhwu: Strikes this year have been very much lower than in the past because of negotiation and understanding between employer and employee.
Now investors complain that crime is what is keeping them away. The government must now address crime because the problem of strikes has been addressed. When crime has been addressed another issue will be raised as a reason why investors are keeping away.
FTW: What are your views on privatisation? Do you think that overseas railway models could work in South Africa where, for example, the state runs the infrastructure and operations are given out to private enterprise? Sarhwu: We say no to privatisation. We see it as the start of a new era of slavery. When people preach privatisation they talk of empowerment of blacks, but really there is no empowerment of blacks. On the question of overseas examples, there's a problem with comparisons. Because something works in one country it doesn't mean it will work in South Africa.
We must focus on our own problems and try and improve on those. Transnet has a new Board of Directors and they must be given time to prove themselves.
Our wish is to be the first to make an example to other companies and parastatals that if we can settle our differences we can raise productivity levels.
