More than two months after wage negotiations reached a deadlock between the United National Transport Union (UNTU) and Bombela Operating Company the parties were able to reach a multi term salary agreement and prevent the first ever strike at the railway operator of the Gautrain.
Today delegations of UNTU and Bombela signed an agreement for an 8,4% salary increase and an increase of R100 in housing allowance for this year and next year. The salary increase will be backdated until 1 July 2016.
The agreement comes after the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) issued UNTU with a certificate of non-resolution giving the Unions members the right to go on a protected strike for a 9 % salary increase after two senior commissioners tried in vain to get the parties to resolve the dispute.
Eddie de Klerk, Acting General Secretary of UNTU, says this was a though round of negotiations as UNTU’s members had given the Union a fixed mandate with no room to engage in proper collective bargaining.
“After a small group of members refused the final offer by Bombela, the Union send a strike ballot to all its members to decide if they were prepared to go on strike for a 0,6% increase or not. The majority of the more than 50% of UNTU’s members who participated in the ballot, decided to accept the 8,4%.
“The Union believes 8,4% is a fair salary increase given the ongoing negative trend in South Africa’s economy,” says Harris.
For enquiries phone De Klerk on 082 567 6638.
Issued on behalf of UNTU by Sonja Carstens, Media and Liaison Officer. For UNTU Press Releases e-mail sonja@untu.co.za or phone 082 463 6806.
