WeeklySA_AdminIMPASSE: The union declares a dispute following deadlock in annual negotiations…
By Tasneem Bulbuliaa
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has been granted a certificate to strike by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), after it deadlocked with employers of the Bombela Operating Company (BOC), which manages the Gautrain.
Wage negotiations deadlocked on June 9 and Numsa filed a dispute with the CCMA, which was heard on July 1.
Parties were still unable to find an agreement, which resulted in a certificate to strike being issued. Numsa says BOC has not put a meaningful offer on the table and has only offered a 4.2% increase.
13% increase across the board;
The company to contribute 60% and employees to contribute 40% towards medical aid; Housing allowance of R2000 per employee per month; and
The BOC was initially a 5-day operation and then it changed to a 6-day operation without compensating workers for the extra work. Workers had not been remunerated for these additional hours and therefore the union demanded that they be compensated for this. And, hencefort, workers must be paid overtime for the 6th day.
We demand a guaranteed bonus because the bosses at BOC gave themselves and office workers R22 000 each as a bonus. But blue collar workers are denied a guaranteed bonus. They have an incentive bonus which requires that they must first meet certain laid down qualifying criteria, in order to be paid. This is unfair and we demand equal treatment for all workers
Full-time shopstewards so that they can represent workers in disciplinary enquiries, grievances etc, over time BOC has become hostile to the union and this led to BOC management unilaterally withdrawing a recognition agreement that we had with the company.
In a separate statement, BOC says that following three rounds of internal engagement, it tabled its final offer to Numsa on June 9 of a basic salary increase of 4.2%, while Numsa is demanding 6%.
“Ideally, we would like to avoid a strike because workers also suffer due to the no work no pay policy; however, due to the arrogance and stubbornness of the BOC management, Numsa has no choice but to call on its members to ballot in terms of the Labour Relations Act and the possibility of a crippling strike is imminent for Gautrain,” Numsa warns.
“BOC has fully developed contingency plans in place to ensure that all services continue without interruption.The safety and convenience of passengers remain our top priority. We remain committed to constructive and good-faith engagement with Numsa to reach a fair and sustainable resolution that avoids disruption,” BOC states.
Numsa posits that the positive performance of Gautrain is as a result of workers, specifically its members who ensure that the trains run optimally and efficiently daily, and therefore, its demands are fair. Moreover, it points out that the cost of living crisis has resulted in all basic needs like food and electricity increasing.
Numsa further calls on the Gautrain Management Agency and the Gauteng provincial government to intervene in the matter. The provincial government is set to take over ownership of the Gautrain system in March 2026, marking the end of the current concession agreement.
This transition will happen as the current concessionaire’s agreement with the government concludes. Following the takeover, the government plans to expand the Gautrain network, with a focus on making it more accessible and affordable for residents. – Fullview/additional reporting by Weekly SA Mirror
