Gautrain workers affiliated with Numsa set to strike after wage talks come to a standstill
SANDTON – Numsa members will proceed with strike action today after wage negotiations with Bombela Operating Company came to a deadlock.
Wage negotiations between the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) and the Gautrain operator the Bombela Operating Company (BOC) has ceased. Numsa gave notice that workers affiliated with the union will go on strike later today (5 October 2020).
The workers are set to picket outside the Bombela Operating Company head office in Midrand. They would like to engage and highlight some of their demands.
According to Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, their members will be on an indefinite strike until BOC engages meaningfully with their demands. “The BOC refuses to negotiate wages with us, they are simply imposing a 4 per cent increase on our members, without engaging or negotiating with them. We are demanding 8 per cent increase in order to cushion the lowest paid worker who earns approximately R8 500 per month,” said Hlubi-Majola.
In another statement by Gautrain spokesperson Kesagee Nayager, BOC has offered 4.1 per cent increase in salaries and all benefits. The offer was rejected by Numsa and shared their latest demands to an increase of approximately 26 per cent.
With the Sandton Gautrain Station running smoothly this morning. The company has come up with alternatives to avoid the disruption of operations for Gautrain commuters.
“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,” said Nayager
He added that whilst the company respects worker’s right to strike within the framework of the Labour Relations Act, they would like to appeal to striking workers to equally respect working colleagues without intimidation.
Related Stories
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/lnn/1144788/gautrain-warns-of-possible-delays-due-to-upcoming-strike-action
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/158500/67-gautrain-security-guards-could-face-retrenchment
