Unions lobby industry to support strike

KEVIN MAYHEW THE WESTERN Cape, Kimberley and the Eastern Cape’s Port Elizabeth and East London ports were this week’s target of the rolling industrial action by four major transport unions to protest what they claim is Transnet’s failure to consult adequately with workers before restructuring. The campaign, which started in Durban with a three day strike, moved on to give Trevor Manuel a pre-Budget taste of their concerns as they marched on Parliament on Wednesday (February 15) as part of the one-day strike. Action was planned in Port Elizabeth and East London today (February 17) followed by Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo from March 20-22. “If it is still unresolved, then we will look to national simultaneous action,” said general secretary of the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu), Randall Howard. Outlining the reasons for the continuing impasse with management, Randall said all talks with Transnet management had revealed them to be unwilling to engage in constructive discussions. On the Western Cape action he said that they believed a major impact would result for Saldanha Bay, which fitted with their strategy of convincing key industry players and clients of Transnet such as Kumba of the need to consult with them. These companies have the ear of both Transnet and the government and stand to lose significantly if the intransigence continues,” he explained. After taking legal advice, Satawu will also try to up the ante in the pressure stakes by calling on other unions to undertake sympathy strike action. Legal representatives for the four unions involved are to take a decision on how to involve SAA employees in the action. The Supreme Court recently turned down the first application for them to join the industrial action. Satawu is involved in the action along with the United Association of SA (Uasa), United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) and SA Railway and Harbour Workers’ Union (Sarhwu).