Numsa members protest salary increase at Gautrain’s Midrand depot
MIDRAND – Members of Numsa have rejected the four per cent increase proposed by the Bombela Operating Company, which manages the Gautrain.
Members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) embarked on a strike outside the Gautrain Depot in Midrand on 5 September.
The union claimed that the Bombela Operating Company is not listening to them after the company imposed only a four per cent salary increase. Numsa national spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola explained that the strike was indefinite as management has been refusing talks with them on a better increase. “Gautrain management is imposing a four per cent increase on our members, our members are demanding eight per cent. What had sparked the strike is the fact that they basically presented this four per cent in an email document.
“They said this is our offer, this is our final offer. Four per cent, take it or leave it. We are not negotiating. And ultimately that is a problem, in South African law you do not have a right as an employer to simply empose changes on the workforce, you have to meet engage meaningfully and come to an agreement.”
Hlubi-Majola added that the increase did not come out of negotiations with the union. “It is the fact that they are not willing to engage us, that has sparked the strike. As far as we are concerned, Gauteng management has provoked the strike action.
“We have been reaching out to them since August when we first received the strike certificate, for us to come around the table and talk, they have refused. They said to us ‘This is our demand and that’s it!’ They are not willing to actually sit around the table so that we can find each other and that’s an unacceptable position to take, especially if you are a company responsible for transporting thousands of people to their workplaces. It is in your interest to sit around the table and negotiate with the union.”
Hlubi-Majola concluded that should the company not engage them, the strike will continue.
Kesagee Nayager, the spokesperson for Gautrain said, “We will implement a contingency plan to ensure we can still deliver a train service to our passengers during this unfortunate strike action. Additional security measures have been implemented on the Gautrain system and the safety of our passengers will not be compromised.
“Whilst we respect worker’s right to strike within the framework of the Labour Relations Act, striking workers must equally respect that their colleagues also have a right to work without intimidation. We apologise in advance for the inconvenience to our passengers and we will keep them informed of any changes in this regard.”
