Trucker wage talks to begin again

The Road Freight Association is set to return to the negotiation table in August this year when talks around wage increases with Unions start. After heated negotiations in 2008 the RFA signed a two-year-agreement with Unions to implement wage increases of 11% for 2009 and 2010. According to the RFA, the second part of that agreement will be implemented on March 1 this year, but wage increases for next year have yet to be determined. Speaking to representatives from the various human resources, skills development and training and education departments of several companies at the first RFA training junket for 2010, session facilitator Tony D’Almeida said several road shows had been planned between now and August where the negotiating team will be gathering information around wages from RFA members across the country. “Issues around wages, payroll, increases and anything else that needs to be addressed during the negotiations will hopefully be brought to our attention during these road shows. In August we start negotiations with the Unions.” Three mandate sessions have also been scheduled between August and October this year during which RFA members will be given necessary information around the progress of the negotiations as well as the outcome. “Although there is no guarantee, October has been diarised as the month in which negotiations will have been finalised and completed and a settlement around increases for 2011 reached. That new agreement will then be implemented on March 1, 2011.” D’Almeida said it was important that members attended the road shows, bringing their issues to the table. “It is important that the negotiating team is well-informed and represents the needs of the RFA members.”