Wage negotiations remain contentious

Wage negotiations remain contentious in South Africa as parties come from such different perspectives, says Meier. “We understand that the right to strike exists and has a role to play in the process, but due to the enormity of the consequences, it should be more prudently used and decisions to exercise that right should only be allowed to rest in the hands of more responsible people who understand these consequences fully. “Wage negotiations will remain contentious because of the system of free enterprise capitalism where bosses want to maximise profit and not equitably share the wealth with workers who produce it,” says Randall. “This is where the fundamental differences arise with regard to the contending interests. Employers in the road freight and logistics industry must still undergo a paradigm shift with regard to valuing their employees as assets, investing in them and rewarding them fairly. The system breeds on exploitation of workers in order to maximise profit.” Brown believes that as long as negotiations speak to the livelihood of both employee and employer they will remain contentious, but says Meier, there are ways other than striking to get results. “More mature parties put honest needs on the table up front and look at integrative ways of finding solutions, rather than distributive ways.” He says, however, that as in the past employers remain open to more modern forms of negotiation around mutual gains. And as goods are once again being moved across the country, both Satawu and the RFEA will only meet across the negotiation table in two years’ time. Says Brown: “We will only negotiate again in 2011. In the meantime the agreement has been submitted to the Department of Labour.” Satawu says it will continue to fight for a living wage for all workers in the industry. “At the next round in two years’ time we intend to build on what we have achieved. There remain huge challenges ahead that must be addressed to ensure a safer and healthier working environment for workers and long-distance truck drivers in particular.”