The United National Transport Union (UNTU) needs to warn our members against spending excessively this Festive Season and to ensure that they don’t end up struggling to make ends meet in the beginning of the year.
Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU, says thousands of UNTU members are already indebted and are faced with the likelihood of losing their homes because they simply can’t afford to pay the bond, due to the rising cost of living.
“Just yesterday, the petrol price had risen for the fifth month in a row, to R14.76 per litre inlands and R14.27 per litre on the coast. If that is not enough, a recent study shows that people are paying three times more for food than they did a year ago.
“Due to the global climate change and the extreme weather conditions, sudden cold weather resulted in 5 000 sheep dying, making lamb meat almost unaffordable. The same happened to the price of poultry due to the outbreak of avian flu, which also led to an increase in the price of milk, cheese and eggs. Fruit and vegetable prices are negatively impacted by the drought in the Western Cape, the worst drought experienced in the past 100 years.
“If this is not enough, our members need to brace themselves against Eskom’s proposed increases in the price of electricity,” says Harris.
Another blow is the medical aids, to which UNTU members in the various state-owned enterprises belong to, announced contribution increases of between 8% to 12% will come 1 January 2018
“UNTU is currently in the process of obtaining mandates, from our Branches on the final wage offer tabled by Transnet, for Transnet employees at the Transnet Bargaining Council on 1 December. Our Branches have until 11 January 2018 to submit their mandates. Please ensure that you participate in this process.
“In the meantime, the parties of the Bargaining Forum of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) need to determine dates for wage negotiations at the passenger rail service.”
According to Harris there is no certainty on the road ahead and members must not overspend.
Issued on behalf of UNTU by Sonja Carstens, Media and Liaison Officer. For UNTU Press Statements phone 082 463 6806 or e-mail sonja@untu.co.za
