Trucker strike now proposed for early April

The truck drivers’ strike over what they term “insufficient” wage increases could now take place in early April, according to Tabudi Abner Ramakgolo, national sector co-ordinator for the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) This, he told FTW, followed the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) meeting on March 13, where the unions applied for an ‘advisory award’ – a legal requirement before they could issue a notice of a strike to employers and the bargaining council offices. From the April 13 meeting the CCMA has to issue the advisory award within 14 days – and it is only after this is received that the unions can immediately issue the notice of a strike. In the meantime, Satawu also called off its previous plan to kick-start the strike on the March 15. “We are likely to start our strike the first week of April,” said Ramakgolo, “since we shall be giving 10 days’ notice as per our legal advice.” Magretia Brown, labour relations officer of the Road Freight Association (RFA) who also represents the association on the Road Freight Employers Association (RFEA), agreed with the union’s date-lining. “The 14 days allowed to the CCMA expire on March 27,” she told FTW, “and a notice to strike would have to give us the 10 days’ notice Satawu has promised – making the first possible strike date April 6.” But the RFEA has its own plans, she added. “The commissioner suggested that employer/ union meetings should still take place, and we intend to continue the wage talks.” The body and the unions have already had two more negotiation sessions, with the RFEA “pushing for a settlement”, according to Brown. But there’s a tight deadline on settling the affair. Any deal done would have until the end of the first week of April to be put before the minister of transport who will only be available until that date. “This means that we would hope to submit any settlement before March 27 (today’s FTW release date),” said Brown. “Anything submitted after the first week of April could not be promulgated.”