Talk and contingencies minimise strike impact

ALAN PEAT
IMPROVED COMMUNICATION between Transnet operational subsidiaries combined with contingency plans by the freight industry appear to have neutralised the damaging effects of recent strike action. A meeting between unions and senior Transnet staff – including, it is reported, CE Maria Ramos – was scheduled shortly after FTW’s print date and unions have been hinting that there are signals that Transnet is willing to review its stance on the restructuring process. Most severely hit has been the Metrorail section of the strikes, but this only stranded workers in each of the strike regions, not cargo, according to Colin Schultz, distribution manager of Sans Fibres, and founder of the Cape Cargo Owners’ Association. Indeed, in the Cape, the strike was a bit of a non-event from the cargo owners’ viewpoint. “From the port’s perspective, the impact was minimal,” he said. “And, although commuter rail travellers took the brunt, there was generally a good staff turnout.” In Durban – worst hit of all the strike regions, and where the container terminal was closed for three days all told – they’re actually a bit smug about their contingency plans and ability to handle a strike. “I think we’ve come to grips with it,” said Howard Jackson-Moss, director of Sturrocks Shipping and chairman of the Association of Ships Agents and Brokers of SA (Asabosa) – which has had no negative feedback on the strike. “We were all prepared for it, with people doing container packing and moving, for example, just having had to make plans.” He also stressed that the communication from the port authorities about what was happening was “excellent” – and this had been the consensus at an Asabosa meeting. Contingency plans are also two words used by Malcolm Sodalay, GM of Sammar Investments and chairman of the Durban harbour carriers section of the SA Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff). The period after last Monday’s strike didn’t see the big queues of trucks lined up outside the Durban container terminal (DCT) as was the case in previous strikes. “After the strike, they deployed extra staff – which helped a lot,” said Sodalay. He even praised Transnet’s best efforts at contingency planning. “They did the best they could given the staff which didn’t come to work,” he added, “and they did keep the waterside working.” Jane Barrett, the policy research officer at the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) also confirmed that the result of this week’s meeting was critical in deciding the future of the strike.