Numsa, Gautrain wage dispute continues
Management says services would proceed, however, only at peak hours.
National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa-affiliated Gautrain workers has vowed to continue with their wage increment strike.
On Monday, the workers picketed at the Gautrain management (Bombela operating company offices after negotiations deadlocked between Numsa and Gautrain management.
Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said the strike was to continue as no meeting was set between the union and Gautrain management.
“From Monday 5 October, our members will be on an indefinite strike until the Bombela operating company engages us meaningfully on our demands. Management has refused to negotiate wages with us. They are simply imposing a 4% increase on our members, without engaging or negotiating with them. We are demanding an 8% increase in order to cushion the lowest paid worker who earns approximately R8 500 per month.”
ALSO READ: More support for Numsa strike
Gautrain spokesperson Kesagee Nayager said despite the strike taking place services would continue.
“Numsa has rejected the offer of 4.1% that was tabled by the company. Numsa is demanding an increase that equates to 26%. We have not
officially seen the 8% demand that Numsa has been referring to in the media. We believe that an increase of 4.1% is fair given our economic circumstances.”
Numsa has refuted that it requested for a 26% increase and both parties were not able to provide a copy of the proposals made.
Nayager said the company could not meet Numsa’s demands due to having financial difficulties because of Covid-19 outbreak which led to a lockdown that saw the trains not moving for almost two months.
“Not a single Gautrain worker took home a reduced pay and not a single job was lost at Gautrain. This was a principled decision that the company took upfront, in spite of the losses we had incurred and continue to incur. We are calling on Numsa and our workers to consider the offer of 4.1% taking all of these factors into account.”
While the strike takes place, Nayeger said that train services would be available to passengers during the peak periods.
ALSO READ: AMEO reach an agreement with NUMSA
“The morning peak period was between 05:30 and 09:00. The same will apply for the afternoon peak period between 15:00 and 19:00.
“The train service will not be available during the off-peak period, but the bus and midi-bus service is not affected by the strike and will continue to operate as per the standard schedule. We apologise in advance for the inconvenience to our passengers and assure them that we will keep them informed of any changes in this regard.”
Nayager said that the management was willing to return to negotiations to end the wage deadlock.
“But to do that, Numsa must be prepared to consider the counter demands by the company and to negotiate in good faith.”
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
