The United National Transport Union (UNTU), the majority union in the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), and the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU), have reached a deadlock with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) at the PRASA Bargaining Forum this morning in the wage negotiations for this year.
Labour was prepared to move with its salary demand from 20% to 17% as a sign of the Union’s commitment to negotiating in good faith. The Employer however, refused to amend its laughable offer of a 3% salary increase for PRASA employees, as of 1 April 2017.
Management kept on insisting that Labour should withdraw its salary demand and put a so-called inflation related demand on the table. Labour believes that its demand is realistic and fair, given the fact that the cost of living has increased drastically for workers over the past financial year.
Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU, says just the contributions that members must pay to their respective medical aids have increased, by between 11% and 14%.
“Thanks to PRASA not respecting collective agreements, our membership is getting poorer by the day. PRASA has still not complied with the 19 disputes. UNTU had to apply to the Labour Court in Johannesburg for a court order to force PRASA to implement the collective agreements.
“It seems that the multiyear wage agreement in PRASA as negotiated by its former CEO, Lucky Montana, has spoiled management. They no longer know how to negotiate in good faith. Labour cannot negotiate with an unwilling partner, that has no mandate to improve its offer, despite the R16, 7 billion awarded to PRASA in the budget for the next financial year,” says Harris.
Labour will now declare a dispute on the deadlock in wage negotiations and refer it to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) for conciliation.
UNTU and SATAWU were issued with a strike certificate by the CCMA last week, after PRASA management failed to show up with a mandate during the conciliation of a dispute on the unilateral appointment of a medical broker and the limited medical aids for employees to choose from.
Harris says UNTU reserves its right to give PRASA 48-hours’ notice of its intention to go on strike.
UNTU Greetings.
S CARSTENS
Media and Liaison Officer
Obo
SA HARRIS
GENERAL SECRETARY
