The South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (SATAWU) is so desperate that this struggling minority union in the rail industry simply can’t help itself to resort to blatant lies to hide the fact that it once again had to ride on the back of the United National Transport Union (UNTU).
But to send out blatant lies to SATAWU membership claiming the Labour Court ruling today as a victory for SATAWU when the Union at the 11th hour came to court and requested the judge to be sighted as an applicant, is just ludicrous.
UNTU should be furious for SATAWU once again trying to steal our glory by claiming it as its “victory”, but the sad reality is then we would only be beating a dead horse.
This is not the first time SATAWU tried to steal our hard work as their own and it will most likely not be the last, says Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU.
Just to repeat the facts for those who might be confused:
- UNTU brought the Labour Court application to enforce the collective agreement signed on the 19 issues at the Prasa Bargaining Forum in April last year;
- SATAWU did not want to be sighted as an applicant in the application;
- Prasa did not oppose the application;
- UNTU sighted SATAWU as a responded along with Prasa as legally required to do as SATAWU was a party to the signing of the collective agreement;
- UNTU’s application was on the unopposed court roll in the Labour Court today;
- SATAWU pitch up with their legal team and asked to be joined as an applicant;
- It was embarrassing for SATAWU to be sighted as a respondent for its members would then realise it did nothing.
- UNTU did not oppose SATAWU request as we wanted to get the matter finalized for the benefit of our members and not play games with minority unions.
SATAWU tried the same tactic with the Transnet Forced Leave issue in November last year. In the Forced Leave application SATAWU withdrew from the case, only to try and get its foot in the door minutes before the order was granted in UNTU’s favour.
The Court ruled against SATAWU.
Be assured we are, and will ,continue to be the fore runner in defending our members rights no matter what the costs are. .
For more information phone Sonja Carstens, UNTU Media and Liaison Officer, on 082 463 6806 or e-mail sonja@untu.co.za.
UNTU Greetings,
S Carstens
o.b.o SA Harris
GENERAL SECRETARY
