URGENT: FINALIZE PRASA SALARY DEMAND

The United National Transport Union (UNTU) is calling on all our PRASA branches to submit their salary demand for this year, before 12H00 on Tuesday 14 February 2017.

UNTU’s negotiating team needs to finalize the Unions consolidated salary demand before Wednesday, 15 February, when salary negotiations are scheduled to start at the PRASA Bargaining Forum.

“So far we have received various double digit demands from several PRASA branches. We would like to receive the salary demands from all the branches to ensure that all our members have the opportunity to let their voices be heard,” says Pieter Greyling, Deputy General Secretary of UNTU.

According to Pieter Greyling, the team expects thorough negotiations this year as PRASA have sited its dire financial situation following the irregular expenditure of R14,3 billion as the excuse as to why the state owned enterprise cannot comply with Collective Agreements.

“UNTU remains of the view that their members will not pay the price for mismanagement of taxpayers’ money by PRASA Management. Our members have been suffering financially thanks to PRASA’s non-compliance with a Collective Agreement. UNTU has approached the Labour Court in Johannesburg to force the Passenger Railway Operator to comply. We are awaiting a date for the matter to be heard.

“However, at the end of the day, Government as the custodian of all the state owned enterprises, must foot the bill if PRASA is unable to. It is after all Governments’ lack of proper financial oversight within the PRASA that have contributed to the R14,3 billion loss.

“Government has in the past, created a precedent with other state owned enterprises like South African Airways (SAA) and Eskom with bailouts amounting to billions being taken from projects for the poor,” says Greyling.

 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.