Satawu members at Road Infringement Traffic Agency go on strike

Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) employees affiliated to the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) held a strike on 12 June at RTIA’s offices in Waterfall Park, Midrand due to working hours disputes.

Satawu has lodged a claim with the CCMA and the case will be heard on 19 June. Zanele Sabela the media officer for Satawu said the industrial action was sparked by a discrepancy in the stipulated working hours for the employees in their letters of appointment as opposed to what was stated in the original conditions of service policy.

RTIA workers work 45 hours a week inclusive of a one-hour lunch break, yet the agency’s policy states that workers must work 40 hours a week, according to Praisewell Nsibande the Gauteng provincial organiser for Satawu.

Nsibande said the union was pushing for workers to work 40 hours weekly and he wants the agency to compensate all workers for the added five hours they have been working weekly dating back to 2013.

The union and agency started working hours negotiations early in March, last year, but the two parties have not reached an agreement. Nsibande said it was now time for the workers to prove how serious they were about this and that was why they have decided to down tools and embark on a strike. The strike will continue until an agreement is reached.

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Monde Mkalipi the spokesperson for RTIA said negotiations were long overdue and he hoped an agreement would be reached soon because the downing of tools by employees was negatively affecting production at the agency.

What is your view about industrial action? Has it become the best way to be heard and if so, why? Tweet us @MidrandReporter