Numsa warns of possible Gautrain strike amid deadlocked wage negotiations
Labour union the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has been granted a certificate to strike by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), after it deadlocked with employers of the Bombela Operating Company (BOC), which manages the Gautrain.
Wage negotiations deadlocked on June 9 and Numsa filed a dispute with the CCMA, which was heard on July 1.
Parties were still unable to find an agreement, which resulted in a certificate to strike being issued.
Numsa says BOC has not put a meaningful offer on the table and has only offered a 4.2% increase.
In a separate statement, BOC says that following three rounds of internal engagement, it tabled its final offer to Numsa on June 9 of a basic salary increase of 4.2%, while Numsa is demanding 6%.
“Ideally, we would like to avoid a strike because workers also suffer due to the no work no pay policy; however, due to the arrogance and stubbornness of the BOC management, Numsa has no choice but to call on its members to ballot in terms of the Labour Relations Act and the possibility of a crippling strike is imminent for Gautrain,” Numsa warns.
“BOC has fully developed contingency plans in place to ensure that all services continue without interruption. The safety and convenience of passengers remain our top priority. We remain committed to constructive and good-faith engagement with Numsa to reach a fair and sustainable resolution that avoids disruption,” BOC states.
Numsa posits that the positive performance of Gautrain is as a result of workers, specifically its members who ensure that the trains run optimally and efficiently daily, and therefore, its demands are fair.
Moreover, it points out that the cost of living crisis has resulted in all basic needs like food and electricity increasing.
Numsa further calls on the Gautrain Management Agency and the Gauteng provincial government to intervene in the matter.
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