TRANSNET WAGE NEGOTIATIONS: 2022/2023 – ENGAGEMENT WITH MANAGEMENT
Our previous circular letter REF: CL.WAGE.NEG.T.010.16, dated 03-10-2022 refers.
Pursuant to UNTU serving Transnet with a Strike Notice on 3rd October 2022 in terms of Section 64 (1)(b) of the LRA, an urgent meeting was requested by Transnet’s GCEO Me. Portia Derby with the Leadership of both Unions UNTU, (being the President, Vice-President and General Secretary) and SATAWU to engage on the current salary dispute and the imminent strike action as declared by UNTU.
The engagement started by Management, once again pleading poverty by re-iterating the reasons for their latter revised salary offer and declaring that they are not able to revise their offer.
UNTU expressed its concern regarding the meeting being held outside of the formal negotiation structures, which exists within the ambit of the Bargaining Council and informed Management that salary negotiation matters must be dealt with within the formal structures in the Bargaining Council and not as bi-lateral meetings.
UNTU further expressed its concern with the Lawyers letter, dated 3 October 2022 that was issued to UNTU on behalf of Transnet, which is a clear attempt to delay the pending strike action as planned on Thursday 06 Oct 2022. This lawyer letter is being dealt with by the UNTU legal advisors.
After engaging for about three hours, Management requested to caucus and when they returned, they indicated that they have a revised salary increase proposal which they want to present to Labour and simultaneously requested UNTU to put the strike on Thursday 6 October 2022 in abeyance. UNTU’s response was that such a revised salary increase offer must be made formally within the confines of the existing negotiation structures in the Bargaining Councill and that UNTU’s full Salary Negotiation Team must be present after which the revised salary offer will be shared with Membership for mandating purposes.
UNTU refused to put the pending strike action in abeyance.
UNTU then indicated their availability to engage with Management today, 5 October 2022 at the Bargaining Council on their revised salary increase proposal. However, SATAWU’s response was that they are not available.
The engagements ended at about 21H00 with the outcome being that a meeting will be setup for today or by the latest on Friday this week with UNTU for Transnet to provide and discuss the revised salary increase offer to the UNTU Salary Negotiation Team.
MEMBERS, REST ASSURED, UNTU STANDS FIRM AS A UNITED FRONT ON THE CURRENT COURSE OF ACTION AND WILL REMAIN AS SUCH UNTIL MANAGEMENT PROVIDES A FORMAL REVISED OFFER, WHICH WE WILL COMMUNICATE TO OUR MEMBERS FOR MANDATING PURPOSE.
VIVA UNTU VIVA!!!
Esteemed greetings,
C Van Vuuren
GENERAL SECRETARY: UNTU
