No end to Transnet Strike

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Gawain

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Transnet confirmed on Monday that wage talks between the transport utility and two unions faltered once again, despite the Commission for Conciliation and Mediation's (CCMA) involvement.

John Dludlu, spokesperson for Transnet, said attempts by the CCMA to resolve the wage dispute has failed.

"Transnet confirms that attempts by the CCMA to resolve the wage dispute ... have failed," Dludlu said in a statement.

"The company has made a fair and generous offer of an 11% increase on all pensionable earnings.

"The offer, which also provides for above-inflation increases in a range of allowances and benefits, is within the limits of affordability and reasonableness," said Dludlu.

Earlier, the two recognised Transnet unions, the United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) and the South African Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu), said they would appeal to their umbrella bodies for support in the wage deadlock.

"We want support from the other unions," said Utatu general secretary Chris de Vos.

He had sent an email to Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) general secretary Dennis George to ask for other unions to join the strike in solidarity.

George told the South African Press Association Fedusa would release a media statement in response on later on Monday.

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'Strike set to intensify'
Meanwhile, Satawu deputy president Robert Mashego said: "We are going the request the intervention of Cosatu [Congress of South African Trade Unions], and even the intervention of the ANC [African National Congress] if needs be, because we believe there is a need for political intervention."

Utatu, Satawu and the South African Railway and Harbour Workers' Union (Sarhwu) started a strike against Transnet last week, affecting freight rail, rail engineering, ports, port terminals and pipeline services.

Transnet is offering an 11% increase, up from an initial 8% offer.

De Vos said the unions dropped their demand in talks at the weekend to an unmandated 12%.

But a joint statement by Utatu and Satawu warned on Monday that the strike would continue.

"The Transnet strike is set to intensify with no resolution in sight. Management effectively walked away from any negotiated settlement ... after stating an unwillingness to budge on any item of money substance," said the unions.

Transnet warned on Friday that the "no work, no pay" rule applied to striking workers.

Transnet acting group chief executive Chris Wells said strikers had caused more than R20-million in damages to Transnet equipment and put the lives of innocent people in danger.

Transnet employs nearly 54 000 people. Satawu represents 39% and Utatu 45% of these workers.

An estimated 15% of workers were not striking.

Transnet obtained a court interdict last Tuesday to prevent striking workers from "unlawfully interfering with business or activities of Transnet".

Thirteen people were arrested for public violence and intimidation during the Satawu workers' strike in Durban last Monday.

A petrol and diesel train derailed last week in an apparent sabotage by striking workers, causing a 10 000 litre diesel spillage.
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http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-05-17-transnet-wage-talks-crumble

This is going to drag on and damage the economy further.

Do they realise that the wages they loose during the strike they will never make up again, and the longer the strike lasts the more expensive goods will be and then their increase will not mean sheet. The one percent they are holding out for is a joke.
Nice to see that this is going to become political

A government entity Transnet having its members Unions asking the government to help them strike against the government.

WTF!!
 
I thought it was illegal to strike during this time? Or was it just talk.?
 
Like children getting cookies for bad behaviour, again.
 
12% increase just as we getting out of a big recession sounds reasonable. It is just what our economy needs to create jobs;)

:wtf:
 
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blunomore said:
What is ' this time'?
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Sorry the WC 2010. There were talks that all strikes would be illegal. Maybe they should have made it a month before too, if it was made illegal just for that time they underestimated the striking comunity.
 
Mila said:
Sorry the WC 2010. There were talks that all strikes would be illegal. Maybe they should have made it a month before too, if it was made illegal just for that time they underestimated the striking comunity.
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As a taxpayer, you may also find this interesting :

A bit of South Africa will become "a Fifa zone" when officials from the world governing body stream into the country to prepare for the 2010 World Cup.

Just as the United Nations took over the Sandton Convention Centre during the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, Fifa is expected to do the same.

The football governing body has also been given guarantees by the government that its officials can bring in unrestricted amounts of foreign currency, and will also be exempted from paying most of the country's taxes.

Sandton Convention Centre executive director Nomaxabiso Majokweni confirmed on Thursday that the centre would serve as the headquarters of the Fifa administrative delegation in 2010.

Majokweni said that when the Fifa delegation visited South Africa in October last year to inspect venues, they were taken to the convention centre and were impressed.

The Fifa delegation who will be based in Sandton will include administrative staff, Fifa's commercial affiliates, broadcast-rights holders and a large contingent of journalists.

During the bid presentations, the South African government undertook to allow Fifa officials and affiliates to bring in and take out unrestricted amounts of foreign currency as well as a guarantee that it would not impose taxes, duties or other levies on Fifa officials, subsidiaries and affiliates.

Kuben Naidoo, chief director of fiscal policy at the National Treasury, confirmed that the government had given these guarantees to the South African Football Association, which in turn had presented them to Fifa as part of the bid.

Naidoo said that although Fifa would be given unrestricted access to foreign currency, this would be within the boundaries of South African and international law, especially regarding money-laundering issues.

"Fifa is as concerned about the issue as we are, and we will be keeping an eye on that," Naidoo said.

South African Revenue Service spokesperson Sechaba Nkosi said that even though the Fifa delegation might be exempted from other forms of tax, members would still have to pay airport tax when they land in the country, a tourism levy when they book into hotels and VAT on all goods they purchased while in South Africa.

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said on Wednesday that unlike the UN delegation during the world summit, who were bound only by UN conventions, Fifa personnel would be bound by most of the country's laws while they were in the country.

Fifa officials were not available for comment.
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http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=2871&art_id=vn20040520033115955C745303

The article dates back to 2004, so I am trying to find out if it is still the case, or if they have changed their minds subsequently ...
 
i dont earn enough money to support my drinking habit so lets strike and bring the whole country to its knees

general comment I know, but probably true

make strikes illegal

african mentality ftw :rolleyes:
 
I found this more interesting ......

South African Revenue Service spokesperson Sechaba Nkosi said that even though the Fifa delegation might be exempted from other forms of tax, members would still have to pay airport tax when they land in the country, a tourism levy when they book into hotels and VAT on all goods they purchased while in South Africa.
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so it was confirmed they don't pay taxes by SARS? :eek:
 
I deeemand a Increeeeese! I am Entitled to it! GIVE ME INCREASE! And they still wonder about the missing link.
 
blunomore said:
the South African government undertook to allow Fifa officials and affiliates to bring in and take out unrestricted amounts of foreign currency as well as a guarantee that it would not impose taxes, duties or other levies on Fifa officials, subsidiaries and affiliates.
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Why. why why why WHY unrestricted foreign currency? WHY should they not pay taxes?
:sick::(:mad::sick:
 
The football governing body has also been given guarantees by the government that its officials can bring in unrestricted amounts of foreign currency, and will also be exempted from paying most of the country's taxes.
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Fark me, that's awesome. :D Someone's making crazy money and it sure as hell ain't us.
 
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