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FREIGHT & TRADING WEEKLY
FRIDAY 3 April 2009 NO. 1856
Truckers set strike date BY Alan Peat The truckers’ strike is set for April 7. A notice dated March 27, and sent to the Road Freight Association (RFA) by Tabudi Ramakgolo, sector co-ordinator of the SA Transport & Allied Workers Union (Satawu), reads: “Satawu and its members hereby give notice of their intention to embark on an industry-wide strike in pursuit of their demands. “The strike will commence on April 7 at 01:00-hours.” According to information released to FTW by Magretia Brown, labour relations manager of the RFA, the only possible saving grace could be a meeting planned for March 30 (after FTW’s printing deadline) – when further negotiations between the Road Freight Employers’ Association (RFEA) and the four unions involved will take place. Both employers and unions have expressed their commitment to negotiations. “The RFEA negotiations team has been, and still is, committed to the negotiation
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process,” said Brown. “But, while we will always try to avoid a strike, we will be prepared for one – and we will stand our ground.” Said Ramakgolo: “We remain committed to resolving the dispute, and ask that you (the RFEA) make every effort during the next 10 days to meet our demands.” The negotiation option is also being encouraged by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA). But settlement of the dispute depends on both employers’ and workers’ bodies bringing their offers and demands closer together – with a yawning gap currently between the two figures. Said Brown: “The RFEA has offered 11%, which we believe is more than reasonable under the current economic conditions. In the event of a strike this will revert to the original 10.5%.” The four unions – led by Satawu – are still insisting on a massive 37% hike on the minimum wages and a 15% increase across-the-board. “In addition they want
Jobs market implodes four-months’ fully paid maternity leave and a number of allowances that will also result in a huge on-cost for employers,” Brown added. “That is all economically unrealistic.” And, although employers intended that the new increases be implemented from March 1, this has now been delayed – and workers likely won’t see more pay (whatever is finally decided) until after mid-year. “And it will even be more delayed in view of the upcoming elections,” said Brown. “The department of labour has indicated that they will be under pressure to promulgate the agreement if it is submitted to them beyond the first week of April since they will no doubt be affected by the dissolution of parliament in early April. “They have advised the National Bargaining Council of the Road Freight Industry (NBCRFI) that any further delay in securing an agreement may very well result in promulgation being delayed until as late as July.”
Kim Botti ... Some companies are cutting salaries by as much as 20% in order to avoid retrenching staff. (See story on page 12.) Photo: Tijana Huysamen.