The United National Transport Union (UNTU) will have no option than to call on its members to go on a legal strike if Bombela, the operator of the Gautrain, continue to play games and use delaying tactics instead of trying to resolve the salary dispute.
UNTU’s members are angry and frustrated by their managements disregard of their demands and deliberate attempts to prevent them from using their constitutional right to strike if their employer continues to ignore them.
Mr. Neels Haasbroek, Deputy- General Secretary of UNTU, says Bombela has until 18 July to submit its application to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to decide on the company’s objection that UNTU no longer have the right to negotiate on behalf of its members as its record show that the Union is no longer the majority Union.
“In terms of the collective agreement UNTU needs to meet a threshold of more than 50% membership to negotiate with Bombela. The company alleges that UNTU no longer has a 50% plus membership, but a membership of 42%. The Union disagrees. In terms of the agreement UNTU is afforded a 90-day period to proof them wrong. Until then Bombela has to continue negotiations with UNTU as the Union had a membership of 50% plus when negotiations started on 1 April,” says Haasbroek.
According to Haasbroek UNTU would do its utmost best to answer to Bombela’s application as soon as possible and attempt to get a date next week for the CCMA to decide on the latest dispute on the interpretation of the agreement.
“It is clear that Bombela only came to the CCMA to try and stall the Union in obtaining a certificate which will enable us to get a mandate from our members if they want to go on a strike. Bombela realizes that a strike in the first week of the new school term would disrupt hundred thousands of commuters. UNTU does not believe that Bombela have any intention to find an amicable resolution to the current wage dispute.
Bombela is seeking to short-change its hard working and hyper efficient employees when they offered a 3% pay increase during the 2016/2017 salary negotiations. UNTU demanded an 15% pay increase due to amongst other employees struggle to cope with the current financial crisis in the country. The gap has narrowed to a 9% vs 7% divide when negotiations deadlocked causing UNTU to declare a dispute.
For further enquiries please phone Mr. Haasbroek on (011) 728 0120 or 082 904 2215.
Issued on behalf of UNTU by Sonja Carstens, Media and Liaison Officer. For UNTU Press Releases e-mail sonja@untu.co.za or phone 082 463 6806.
