The United National Transport Union (UNTU) is waiting for the Commission for Conciliation, Arbitration, and Mediation (CCMA) to set a date for conciliation after the Union declared a dispute against the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) in the wage negotiations for 2020.
Organized labour is demanding a 7,5% wage increase on the total guaranteed package (TGP) of Prasa employees; the employer to contribute 70% of the medical contribution of the employee; that the passenger rail agency cannot retrench any employees for the duration of the agreement and that a performance management system to be implemented.
Neels Haasbroek, Deputy-General Secretary of UNTU, says the wage negotiations deadlocked after Prasa refused a (1) one-year wage deal, but proposed a multi-term wage agreement for this year and the next (2) two years.
The Employer proposed a three (3) year wage agreement (2020-2023), with effect from the 1st April of each year. It entails 5% or this year and 2021 on the basic pensionable salary and 4,8% for 2022.
Haasbroek says, due to the turbulent current global economic conditions and the uncertainty about how soon the South African economy will recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, the Union cannot agree to a multi-term wage agreement.
Current living costs, especially food prices, is raising. This year the figure of the annual consumer price index (CPI) jumped from 1,4% in February to 2,2% in June and rose to 3.2% in July.
Haasbroek said rumours are currently doing the rounds in Prasa, alleging that a wage agreement has been signed, is untrue.
Issued on behalf of UNTU by Sonja Carstens, Media, Liaison and Communication Officer. For UNTU press statements phone Sonja on 082 463 6806 or e-mail sonja@untu.co.za
