It is with great relief that the United National Transport Union (UNTU) can announce that our members will commence with duty on the notorious Central Line in Cape Town with immediate effect.
UNTU and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) signed an agreement, after 21:00 last night, after the crippled passenger rail service agreed that the safety of its employees is paramount. UNTU represents the majority of employees working for PRASA.
In terms of this agreement UNTU members will only operate on the Central Line under the following conditions:
Two Police Officers escort the Train driver.
Two Police Officers escort the Metro Train Guard
A Police Officer in the middle cab as back up.
Armed Guards at turn around stations.
Armed Guards at all the “hot spot” train stations including but not limited to; Netreg, Bonteheuwel, Heideveld, Nyanga and Langa.
Police Officers will accompany the Train Crew from the Roster Office.
Containers will be placed at the Bonteheuwel split with Armed guards/Police Officers 24/7 with vehicles on the service roads within 30 days as from 16/01/18. Missing signals will be replaced and will be in full operation within 90 days. Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU, says if PRASA or the SAPS fails to adhere to the agreement, the train service on the Central Line will be suspended again.
“This is what UNTU has been demanding for the past two years. Although it is a relief for the employees working on the Central Line, one must never forget that five innocent workers paid with their lives because basic security measures were not met,” says Harris.
This is what UNTU has asked for, in our pending court application against PRASA, the SAPS and the Minister of Transport in the Western Cape High Court, all which are opposing our application.
The service on the Central Line is scheduled to resume this afternoon.
For more information phone Harris on 082 566 5516.
