The United National Transport Union (UNTU) believes that the Transnet Executive Management should start putting the needs of their own employees delivering essential services during the COVID-19 lockdown first and ensure that they are attended to before donating personal protective equipment (PPE’s) to state departments.
UNTU took note of Transnet donation of PPE’s to the value of R5 million yesterday to the Gauteng Health Department to help the fight against the spreading of the COVID-19 pandemic in the epicentre of South Africa.
“Although it is a beautiful gesture, it was not carefully thought through. On 15 April 2020 UNTU once again, we warned Transnet Group that had been continuously misinformed by the management of Transnet at various depots but especially in Transnet Port Terminals in Cape Town about the distribution of the required PPE’s to employees.
“Transnet Executive Management should have double check where PPE’s are lacking before donating to health workers and leaving their own employee vulnerable. Transnet Group already stated in communication that two employees of Transnet Freight Rail tested positive for COVID-19,” says Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU.
UNTU believes that Transnet should realise that charity begins at home. The state-owned enterprise (SOE) should first double check independently if all their employees who are compelled to work, have PPE’s and are sufficiently protected before making donations.
“This is like a Déjà vu on the loan of R222 million that was made to the bankrupt SA Express in secret amidst wage negotiations with organised labour in December 2017 that must now be written off because it can’t be recovered.
“Neither UNTU nor the Transnet Executive Management knows what the future will hold for our employees hence the priority should be to manage Transnet’s resources to ensure that no job will be jeopardized and that our members are supported throughout the pandemic,” says Harris.
UNTU salutes each worker delivering an essential service in this exceedingly difficult time. The Union does not belittle the sacrifices of our health workers but realises that there are much more workers on the forefront of this pandemic in various other roles that is not given the deserved acknowledgement for their vital contributions.
Issued on behalf of UNTU by Sonja Carstens, Deputy-General Secretary: Media, Liaison and Communication. For UNTU press releases please phone 082 463 6806 or e-mail sonja@untu.co.za.
