Transnet admitted that the legal opinion, it obtained about the proposed shift alignment, indicated that the state-owned enterprise can only achieve this goal through collective bargaining with the recognised Unions within the Transnet Bargaining Council (TBC).
The company also indicated that it was now prepared to enter a negotiation process with the United National Transport Union (UNTU), about shift alignment.
Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU, thanked Transnet for its honesty as the company’s legal opinion on the proposed shift alignment is the same as the legal opinion the Union obtained from a Senior Councillor earlier, to protect our members if Transnet decided to implement its proposal unilaterally.
This comes after Transnet has repeatedly tried to put its proposed shift alignment back on the agenda at the TBC even though UNTU, the majority Union in Transnet, indicated that most of our members gave us a mandate to decline the proposals.
The Union embarked on roadshows regarding the employers proposed shift alignment across the country in July 2017 to obtain the mandate.
“Most of our members do not believe that Transnet’s proposed shift alignment will be of their best interest or better their current working conditions. In terms of Section 49 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997, Transnet must negotiate and reach an agreement with Labour to amend any conditions of employment of employees that falls under the scope of the TBC. This includes working time arrangements or shift alignments.”
UNTU undertook to once again reaffirm our members concerns and mandate to Transnet on 13 December 2017 as we remain far apart.
Issued on behalf of UNTU by Sonja Carstens, Media and Liaison Officer. For UNTU Press Statements phone 082 463 6806 or e-mail sonja@untu.co.za
