RETURN TO WORK
▪ A presentation was made to Labour that 30% of the Operational Staff will return to work on Monday,04 May 2020.
▪ There will be limited transport services in Cape Town, Eastern Cape and Gauteng.
▪ Kwa-Zulu Natal will not be running trains. This also includes mainline trains as there are no travel between provinces as stipulated in the President’s briefing last week Thursday.
▪ PRASA stated that deep cleaning has already commenced, PRASA Cres is making sure that stations and offices are being disinfected, they are also making sure that maintenance is taking place with general cleaning
▪ The Department of Health will be present in various facilities to do screening of Employees and Passengers.
CROWD CONTROL
▪ The communications department will be placing posters at the workplace and stations, everyone will be advised to exercise social distancing and continue to wash their hands.
▪ Commuters will be informed that they will not be accessing the stations without a mask. Government ruling is no persons should be in public without masks.
▪ There will be no eating and drinking in the trains.
▪ Sanitizers will be provided in the stations and platforms.
▪ Securities will be trained as Marshalls – this is being investigated
▪ PRASA is still engaging with the Department of Transport.
▪ Scanning equipment has been delivered in the regions.
▪ The issue around leave – Management to deal with it at a later stage.
▪ PRASA stated that they have no intension of laying off staff, but financially PRASA is being pushed towards that direction.
▪ The matter of the UIF, there is a pay out of between R3500 to under R6700 per employee, management still needs to discuss this matter further.
▪ Labour raised a question if the 30% of staff that will be working will be on a rotational basis.
▪ Labour also raised a question on the way forward for Autopax and Main Line Passenger Services (MLPS).
PROVIDENT FUND/PENSION FUNDS
▪ PRASA Management responded that one month will be paid by end of this week, and
the outstanding two months will be unpaid at a later stage as PRASA has cash flow
challenges. Management mentioned it was either having pay cuts during this COVID
– 19, hence that is their reasons for not paying these Pension/Provident Funds.
▪ Determination of who will be required to work will be of an Operational need,
Administration Staff will be based at home.
▪ Permits are issued by Regional Managers, PRASA sits on the National COVID–19
Committee, and the Regions also have their own committees with their stakeholders
around this pandemic.
▪ There were issues raised around the Employee Wellness Programme (EWP) – the
service is conducted telephonically, there is no face to face interaction unless the
department is later informed. It was a legislation decision that persons, ages 60 and
above should remain at home, also persons with chronic illnesses.
▪ Employees with chronic illnesses, must submit medical report to their relevant
departments. Regions to access individual cases and make decision. Employees on
alternative duties, will remain as is.
▪ Kwa-Zulu Natal government reached the decision that there will not be movement as
they are still on Level 5, the Western Cape government is the only one that can make
the decision as well.
▪ Labour requested that workers be tested by people who are trained to do so.
▪ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that is ordered are SABS approved and Material
Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is available.
Labour and Management could not finalize the agenda, and both parties agreed to meet
again via Zoom on Friday, 1 May at 10h00.
Members will be kept abreast at all times of any new developments in this regard.
Keep safe and help us keep you safe
Report where Lockdown rules are not being followed
UNTU Greetings,
N Haasbroek
Obo SA HARRIS
GENERAL SECRETARY
