UPDATE: Gautrain strike to go ahead – union
"The union was not prepared to suspend the upcoming strike, but was prepared to engage with the employer throughout the weekend to resolve the wage dispute."
The strike by the Gautrain workers is set to go ahead on Monday.
Gautrain workers affiliated to the united national transport union are expected to down tools on Monday over a wage dispute.
On Thursday, the Gautrain operator Bombela proposed another round of talks on condition that the strike is suspended, union secretary Steve Harris said.
“The union was not prepared to suspend the upcoming strike, but was prepared to engage with the employer throughout the weekend to resolve the wage dispute.”
The union, representing 90 percent of workers said drivers, operators, guards and those selling train tickets will be embarking on a strike.
Workers were demanding a 10 percent pay increase, R1 600 housing allowance and a R20 000 incentive bonus.
The employer has only offered an 8.5 percent increase across-the-board but refused to make any offer on incentive bonuses.
After talks deadlocked last week, the union was granted a certificate to strike and served the employer with notice of a strike on Tuesday.
Harris said the CEO of Bombela Arnaud Legrand told workers that all union members will be locked out on Monday if they went ahead with the planned industrial action, for the entire duration of the strike.
“The CEO said workers will only be allowed to return to work when they agree to the terms set out by the employer.”
Gautrain spokesperson Kesagee Nayager said if the strike went ahead, the company would have a plan to mitigate the situation, so commuters would not be affected.
“In the event of a strike, the bus and midi-bus services should not be impacted and we will try our best to implement a reduced train service but this will, of course, depend on the available resources.
Kesagee said passengers will be informed of plans during the weekend.
ALSO READ: Gautrain strike to leave commuters stranded
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