The United National Transport Union (UNTU) welcomes Siyabonga Gama’s, Group Chief Executive of Transnet, written confirmation that there will be no forced retrenchments in the 2018/2019 financial year.
This is the first official response Gama has given on the way forward after UNTU questioned him in a letter on 29 March this year.
According to Transnet they want to cut its wage bill with R4 billion over three years, which would result in 9 000 job losses, half of which would have been in Transnet Engineering.
UNTU called on Transnet to stop playing cat and mouse after rumours surfaced, after which Gama finally came clean.
Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU, says he also welcomes Gama’s reassurance that Transnet is in a strong financial position. “This means there can be no excuses when Labour and Transnet start with wage negotiations for the next financial year,” Harris said.
Harris invited Gama to also finally come clean with the names of the individuals who allegedly defrauded the state-owned enterprise with millions and to inform the South African public on the progress of their prosecution, if any.
UNTU also called on Gama in March this year to identify the individuals, but is still waiting for a response.
For more information phone Harris on 082 566 5516.
Issued on behalf of UNTU by Sonja Carstens, Media and Liaison Officer. For UNTU Press Statements phone 082 463 6806 or e-mail sonja@untu.co.za.
