Strike averted as minister signs off roadfreight wage agreement

ALAN PEAT
AFTER FIVE months of appeals from the road transport employers’ body and the five main unions in the industry, the minister of labour has finally signed the wage agreement negotiated in February - and submitted to the department in March for promulgation and extension to non-member parties. But the lengthy delay waiting for the ministerial signature meant a similar delay in instituting the new wage formula, and left the road transport industry in serious danger of another major strike. Only the fact that the blame for the delay was laid firmly at the minister’s door prevented the unions from calling a strike, and an urgent meeting was arranged for July 28 between the Road Freight Employers' Association (RFEA), the unions and the minister - with both workers and employers hoping that this would see the agreement given the go-ahead, and end the strike threat. And the hopes have been realised, Magretia Brown, labour relations manager of the Road Freight Association (RFA), told FTW. The 2006/7 national bargaining council for the road freight industry (NBCRFI) agreement regarding wage increases has been published in Government Gazette No 29051,” she said. “The date of implementation was
August 7.”