The SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) said it had rejected a revised wage offer ahead of further negotiations with Transnet on Wednesday morning.
This comes after thousands of port and rail workers, members of Satawu and the United Transport Union (Untu), downed tools over an ongoing wage dispute on October 6.
Satawu told its members in a circular on Tuesday that it had rejected Transnet’s new offer of a pay increase of between 4.25% and 5% across the board.
“The union is rejecting this so-called revised offer by the employer. The employer is insulting us and our members because they know very well that the inflation rate in this country is 7.6%, and what the employer is offering us is way below the inflation rate,” Satawu said.
Transnet’s latest offer included:
- Grade G and H – 4.25%
- Grade I and J – 4.5%
- Grade K and L – 5%
- An increase of 1% in the housing allowance, medical aid, acting allowance, stand-by allowance, and night shift across the board.
Satawu said it had written to President Cyril Ramaphosa, Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana, and Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan to “rescue” Transnet as its management “does not have a plan to do so” and the union would not “compromise the workers”.
“It is in the interest of the organisation to rescue the sinking entity,” Satawu said.
It added that it placed the interests of its members first.
“The employer must do the right thing; if it means the management must not get the increment, so be it. Workers are the ones who are working very hard and generating profit for the entity. Our door is open for negotiations and our members will continue striking until the employer gives us something reasonable.”
Meanwhile, Transnet spokesperson Ayanda Shezi said on Wednesday that “conciliation talks” facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) were scheduled to continue.
“Transnet is hopeful that the unions will formally table their position to enable the company to assess its feasibility, taking into account affordability and sustainability imperatives for the business, balanced with the needs of employees. Transnet remains committed to a speedy resolution to the current impasse to enable the business to focus its attention on the sustainable turnaround and improvement of operations,” Shezi said.
The latest round of wage negotiations follows the first day of talks on Monday, which ended with the parties agreeing and signing the picketing rules and picketing sites for the strike.
