The negotiations resumed on 14 and 15 February 2017, under the auspices of Mr. T. Mashigo, a Commissioner from Tokiso.
Labour placed the following demands to the Commissioner;
No employee shall be worse off as a result of the new required Shift Alignment.
- Any increase in hours of duty due to the extension, from the current hours worked to the new required 44 hours per week, must be compensated for.
- Labour demands that overtime is calculated on a daily basis.
- Social Responsibility aspects need to be addressed.
- Negotiations are to be placed on hold until the Group attending the study tour has returned and the report has been shared with Labour.
Management’s response to Labour was disappointing to say the least;
- Shift Alignment must be considered in the context of Legislative provisions.
- Conditions of service will need to be standardised/ aligned to achieve higher levels of equality and fairness for Transnet employees.
- The negotiations and the study tour can continue as parallel processes.
- Employees will be compensated for overtime once they have exceeded the 44 hours per week.
- The Shift Configuration will be informed by the categorisation of employee or in line with activity based rostering.
Management once again reiterated that it is their mandate to ensure an integrated “One Transnet” culture and way of working.
It is clear from the above response that Management is trying to bulldoze the employer’s wishes. However, as Labour we will not capitulate to such tactics.
We are very far apart and no but no agreement has been reached.
The negotiations will resume on 23 and 24 March 2017.
SA HARRIS
GENERAL SECRETARY
