The United National Transport Union (UNTU), the biggest union in the rail sector, with dismay and shock learned that the Gauteng Provincial Legislature will host a two-day rail safety summit without inviting us to attend.
Although UNTU applaud even the slightest attempts by any role player in the industry to improve rail safety, it will be a waste of time and nothing will come of whatever is suggested unless all role players involve in the industry join forces to implement it.
“It is extremely short sighted to have a summit to give “train commuters an opportunity to air their views and suggestions with organised formations to process and account to”, but not affording employees of the various parastatals involved the opportunity to provide inputs through their various trade union leaderships.
“UNTU agrees that the rail system has been inundated with inefficiencies and delays that have a socio-impact on commuters, but the answers to the reasons behind the delays and poor service delivery will only be known by the trains crews, operational staff and administrative personnel who knows where what goes wrong on ground level,” says Eddie de Klerk, Deputy General Secretary of UNTU.
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Roads and Transport Jacob Khawe says commuters embark on wrong ways to show their frustration by setting fire on trains. “No consideration is given to the life-threatening consequences their actions have on the train crew,” says De Klerk.
Khawe welcomed the fact that the summit will bring together organised formations of the rail transport sector – Rail Safety Regulator‚ Rapid Rail Unit‚ United Commuters Voice‚ Prasa/Metrorail‚ Department of Community Safety‚ Transnet Freight Rail‚ and Department of Roads and Transport – to deliberate‚ report and propose regulations to improve rail transport”.
But Dennis George, General Secretary of FEDUSA, says all the proposals will be in vain if organised labour is not invited to participate. “It is very disappointing to see that is spite of numerous calls for broader collaboration and coordination, the one hand still does not know what the other hand is doing. UNTU has already taken the rail safety issue to Transport Minister Dipuo Peters weeks ago,” says George.
According to De Klerk UNTU have been tackling the railway safety issue daily since the death of train driver Piet Botha in July. He was shot twice in the head while waiting for a train at the Netreg Police Station.
For enquiries phone De Klerk on 082 567 6638.
Issued on behalf of UNTU by Sonja Carstens, Media and Liaison Officer.
