A Transnet strike is looming, only holding off while union wage negotiations under the Transnet Bargaining Council continue along the procedural path. It’s a strike which – if it hit the heights of the truck drivers’ work stoppage – could again throw the trade and transport industries into disarray. The unions claim to represent some 55 000 rail, port, pipeline and engineering employees, in a host of key posts. If they downed tools, SA’s ports and railways could be brought to a crashing halt, and the private sector road transport industry could also be brought to a stop. But the wage talks between Transnet and the recognised trade unions – the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) in the Cosatu camp, and fellow transport union Utatu in the Fedusa camp – have stalled. The result of this, according to Satawu policy officer, Jane Barrett, is that a union/ employers’dispute has been declared. “It’s one of the steps in the procedure,” she told FTW, “when the negotiations are not getting anywhere.” Effectively, this dispute should next go before a conciliator for resolution. “But, if this fails,” Barrett added, “the option is for the conciliator to issue a certificate saying the dispute could not be solved – and then the workers could legally go on strike.” And she didn’t think that there was much promise of settlement, as long as the unions stuck to their 12% wage increase demand, and Transnet continued its zero per cent offer. Satawu, meantime, has also accused Transnet of deliberately delaying the issue, and showing no signs of changing its mind on the wage freeze. “We haven’t been able to agree on a date for conciliation,” said Barrett. “Transnet is basically delaying any settlement of the dispute.” And the union members, she added, were ready to shut up shop if conciliation was not achieved – a move which could again see paralysis setting in on the SA freight industry.
