Truckers’ wage talks hit a deadlock

With the second round of wage negotiations between the road transport employers and the labour unions having hit a deadlock last week, the national truck drivers’ strike threatened in November is again in the offing. It’s a threat which, if implemented, would have catastrophic effects on cargo movement in this country, stop the bulk of SA trade in its tracks, and hit the economy a blow which it can hardly afford in this time of global economic crisis. It’s one of two alternatives on the cards, according to Magretia Brown, labour relations manager of the RFA – the body that represents the employers in wage negotiations. “In round two of the talks,” she told FTW, “we did not reach an agreement with the unions. “After the talks ran out of airspeed and stalled, the unions told us they would take the issue to their constituents and come back to us by the end of the month with a decision – whether to resume the discussions, or follow the strike route.” The employers and the unions were both looking at the present wage negotiations leading to a settlement that would fix the new wage levels for two years until 2010. And the employers’ offers and the unions’ demands were closer going into the final talks – employers 10.5% across-theboard and 11% on minimum wage, compared to the unions 14% across-the-board and 19% on minimum. But, although a vast improvement on the original chasm between an 8% offer and a 35% demand, the gap was still just too large to bridge. According to Brown there are other issues, although more minor, that are also still not resolved – like maternity leave. But, she added, the road transport industry can take these no further till month-end earliest – and it’s a “wait-andsee” hiatus between more talks or the truckers girding their loins for strike action.