The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) now faces the risks of the United National Transport Union (UNTU) approaching the sheriff to attach train coaches and any other assets.
The Labour Court granted UNTU’s application in the Union’s favour this morning, making the collective agreement on the 19 disputes Prasa agreed to in April last year an order of Court.
The application was granted after the minority union within the rail industry, SATAWU, once again arrived at Court on the last minute to ride on UNTU’s backs.
SATAWU did not like the fact that UNTU sighted them as a responded in the application together with Prasa after they did not endure any cost to take the matter to Court. Prasa did not oppose UNTU’s application, but the Union had to sight SATAWU as a party as they did sign the initial agreement.
SATAWU correctly pointed out in Court that they could only benefit from all UNTU’s efforts and therefore needed to be sighted as an applicant. If not, the struggling union will lose more face with their members. SATAWU’S request was granted.
If UNTU where to oppose SATAWU’S request, the matter would have been postponed once more and the Union does not consider that to be in the best interest of our members, says Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU.
Included in the 19 disputes are the 45-hour weekly averaging, sick leave, transport for nightshift employees, uniforms and discrepancies in the payment of overtime, salaries disparity and alignment, the acting policy and performance management systems for junior officials and fixed-term contract workers will become full-time after three months.
“With the Court Order in our hands, our biggest challenge now will be to start with a new legal route, should Prasa not comply as we are expecting Prasa will not be doing,” says Harris.
For more information phone UNTU Spokesperson Sonja Carstens at 082 463 6806.
Issued on behalf of UNTU by Carstens. For UNTU Press Releases e-mail enquiries@untu.co.za
UNTU Greetings,
S Carstens
- b. o SA Harris
GENERAL SECRETARY
