FIFI PETERS: We’re attempting to make reference to Satawu (South African Transport and Allied Workers Union), which is the union that has not at this stage signed a cope with Transnet, following the information earlier that the United National Transport Union, Untu, had agreed to the wage deal that had been beneficial by the CCMA of a 6% wage improve for this 12 months.
Read: Untu indicators three-year Transnet wage deal
It is fascinating to see the quantity of discomfort that the strike has brought on fairly a variety of gamers. In truth, the mining trade is claimed to be dropping round R815 million in misplaced exports simply because of this strike.
We have the deputy common secretary of Satawu, Anele Kiet, on the line for extra on the story. Anele, thanks a lot in your time. I perceive that you’re fairly in demand proper now, given the indisputable fact that now we have heard some constructive developments on this Transnet strike – that Untu has signed the three-year wage deal. What is your present place?
ANELE KIET: As Satawu are dissatisfied by the betrayal that Untu staged to us at present. As events, we’ve agreed, as mixed labour or collective labour, we’ll work collectively on this journey, up till the finish. [As such] we have been puzzled to study that Untu has signed an settlement at present which is insulting to the employees. It’s a transparent indication [of who Untu represents] in Transnet. And additionally we’re dissatisfied by the indisputable fact that Transnet was in a position to have a bilateral assembly with Untu.
This is the first of its variety; by no means in the historical past of bargaining inside Transnet, will Transnet have [had] bilateral conferences with unions individually.
FIFI PETERS: How did that occur? From my understanding there have been talks between administration and unions that occurred at present. So you have been saying that there was one discuss the place all of you have been at the desk, after which Transnet had a separate one with Untu?
ANELE KIET: No, there have been no discussions between us and Transnet at present. On Saturday our members gave us a mandate that they’re rejecting the settlement proposal that was proposed by CCMA commissioners. We wrote again to the CCMA commissioners with regard [to that], and there have been no discussions from that point till now, between ourselves and the CCMA, solely to study through the media assertion that went out now that Untu had signed an settlement, and so they had a bilateral with Transnet.
FIFI PETERS: From my understanding, Untu has the largest membership and due to this fact my query is: what does this do to your place? Surely it weakens it as Satawu?
ANELE KIET: No. Look, as we converse proper now, members of Untu are calling Satawu officers [saying] that it is a complete betrayal from the facet of their management. They’ve been working with Satawu every single day. Even at present we’ve been addressing employees in several picket traces the place Untu members are a part of the strike, and so they’ve been saying that they’re rejecting the proposal of the CCMA commissioners. As we converse, they’re calling … to Satawu on the foundation that they’re betrayed by the union. But that’s the problem of Untu.
Where we’re as Satawu, Satawu members stay resolute that tomorrow the battle continues; they are going to be at their picketing traces. The management of Satawu will criss-cross the nation to guarantee that we intensify the strike, as a result of we can not agree that Transnet indicators an settlement, or sleeps in mattress with one union whereas there are two unions which are being recognised in Transnet.
And in fact we’ll intensify our strike and guarantee that we characterize the members who’ve elected us to characterize their aspirations.
FIFI PETERS: What do you imply by ‘intensify the strike’? What are you going to do in another way tomorrow?
ANELE KIET: We will work with different unions that share the similar view that employees who’re underpaid inside Transnet want to get the largest chunk of the income that Transnet declared in the final monetary 12 months. So we’ll proceed to go on the picket traces, encourage our members to come out in numbers – together with those that determined to work throughout this era – to come and be a part of the employees as a result of that is their alternative to change their lives.
FIFI PETERS: What precisely is Satawu searching for when it comes to a wage settlement? Although 6% is beneath the present CPI proper now, we’re seeing a variety of offers being signed for six% on this setting; issues are nonetheless fairly powerful for the financial system and, actually, lots of people should not getting any will increase in any respect. So why is 6% not an affordable provide for Satawu, and what’s it that you’re searching for?
ANELE KIET: You can’t inform me, Fifi, that an worker who takes house R8 000 should settle for 6%, when you are going to give workers who would take house R350 000 per 30 days a 3% increment. What is 3% of R350 000, and what’s 6% of R9 000? That is unfair.
We are saying that, Transnet, you have got declared R5 billion in income and employees, extraordinary employees who’ve made certain that they push these targets, deserve a much bigger chunk on this regard.
Satawu members are saying, actually, that something that’s equal to the inflation price or above it they’re keen to take into account at this time limit; they aren’t going to settle for 6%. That’s the mandate given to us by our members.
FIFI PETERS: There are additionally reviews that certainly one of the calls for is round guaranteeing that there received’t be any retrenchments in the 12 months forward, or job cuts. Is that your place? Is that additionally certainly one of the requests that you’ve as a part of this deal?
ANELE KIET: Our conscience could be very clear, my expensive sister. Transnet is a state-owned entity. A state-owned entity is meant to make jobs, not simply extraordinary jobs however first rate jobs. It can’t be appropriate that Transnet is preoccupied by retrenchment. We will battle that to the bitter finish as Satawu. That there isn’t any dedication from the facet of Transnet not to shed jobs – it might probably’t be appropriate. These employees come from the communities which have voted [in] this authorities of the African National Congress that deployed individuals in the state-owned entities to guarantee that they give the impression of being after their pursuits, and it might probably’t be appropriate that sure individuals sit on the board, sit in the govt of Transnet, resolve that they solely make it some extent that they are saying Transnet is [shedding] jobs.
FIFI PETERS: Anele, thanks a lot for taking the time to clarify your place to us. We’ll be watching very carefully what occurs tomorrow. Anele Kiet, the deputy common secretary of Satawu, was making actually fascinating feedback about the place of Untu, which now we have realized has signed the wage cope with Transnet.
Satawu is claiming that a few of the members of Untu should not essentially proud of the signing of that, and so they needed extra. They are calling him and they’re speaking to him that they’re not glad through telephone. I suppose it will be a good suggestion to get Untu on for a proper of reply and a response to the [claim] that maybe the deal that they signed isn’t the deal that their members bargained for.
