Transnet sends out strong post-strike media message

In a near-full page newspaper
advertisement addressed to
“our customers, employees
and all our important
stakeholders” on Sunday,
acting Transnet CEO Chris
Wells talks of an ‘elegant’
solution to the strike.
“We have created an
incentive to get striking
workers to return to work
without impacting on the
base cost of wages,”
says Wells.
“This elegant solution was
signed by both Utatu and
Satawu, our two recognised
trade unions.”
Wells assures the South
African public and customers
that “Transnet is now united
and determined to deliver on
our commitments to you,”
adding the parastatal will
“work tirelessly” to clear
the backlog, estimated by
Transnet human resources
executive, Pradeep Maharaj,
at six to eight weeks.
Wells goes on to say:
“With Utatu (one of the two
unions involved in the
strike) back at work earlier
this week, we reached
levels of efficiency in
Durban, Richards Bay and
Saldanha higher than the
pre-strike period.”