Cape Town - The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) has labelled the United National Transport Union’s (Untu) decision to agree to a wage deal with Transnet as a betrayal of the workers’ struggle.
However, Untu’s general secretary said they acted in the interest of their members and if Satawu continued with the strike, it would be unprotected.
Satawu represents 27,3% of port workers nationally. Its general secretary Jack Mazibuko said they had learnt “with shock and utmost disappointment that the genuine class struggle waged by workers” had been betrayed.
“The decision in question not only disadvantages but correspondingly undermines the interests of the working-class, low-earning employees, in particular.
This demonstrates that the working class is not homogeneous but is divided from a stratification, theoretical, conscious, social and economic point of view.
Conditions of this nature suggest that petty bourgeois members located in the mentioned union mandated their representatives to sign an anti-worker wage agreement,” said Mazibuko.
Satawu will maintain their stance and intends to continue with their strike on Wednesday. Satawu is not backing down from a 12% salary increment across the board.
Mazibuko said they were aggrieved by the conditions Untu had agreed to.
“We have demonstrated to our members, the country, the international community and detractors (domestic and international) that Satawu is a fighting, striking and campaigning trade union.
The organisation’s members, staff, shop stewards and office bearers have displayed their supreme knowledge, skills and abilities to effectively and efficiently organise and mobilise workers behind a meaningful and revolutionary cause.
“Had the union not followed the correct Transnet Bargaining Council (TBC) and legislative processes and procedures, picketing rules will not only be non-existent but our industrial action will equally be illegal.
Our members decided to engage in collective action and enhance their class consciousness rather than stay at home and be social media activists. In summary, our industrial action should continue as planned regardless of the betrayal in question,” said Mazibuko.
Untu is the majority union in Transnet Bargaining Council, representing 53.9% of members. On Monday it reached a wage deal with Transnet, which is applicable for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2025.
The agreement entails a 6,0% increase in the basic wage for levels H to L, and 6,0% on the annual cost-to-company package for level G during year one.
A 5,5% increase in the basic wage for year 2 and a 6% increase in year 3.
Employees will also receive an increase in medical aid subsidies, in line with the increases in the basic wage, over the duration of the agreement.
The increase on the medical subsidy for the 2022/23 financial year will be implemented from 1 October 2022.
There will also be an increase in the housing allowance commencing from year 2023/24 and 2024/25.
Untu general secretary, Cobus van Vuuren, said the wage agreement “was accepted by the majority of our members”.
“We are a mandate-driven organisation and by accepting the wage offer, they mandated us to sign and agree on the offer.
During engagements we also secured two further allowances which state that the ‘no work, no pay’ rule was struck as it was agreed that workers would be paid for 50% of the days they were on strike and this would come from their annual leave and will therefore be paid leave.
“As for Satawu feeling betrayed by the acceptance of the offer, each union has its own values and philosophies. Both unions who participated in wage negotiations tried to find common ground.
Our members gave us a mandate and we had to act on that mandate. Satawu is unhappy with not getting a double digit increase but knew it would be impossible to achieve,” said Van Vuuren.
Shipping expert, Brian Ingpen, said: “The increase agreed to is very high, given the economic state of the country and the generally poor service provided by Transnet. Thirty-eight ships are awaiting berths at Durban.”
Transnet spokesperson, Ayanda Shezi, said Satawu members were being engaged.
Relating to backlogs to be cleared from rail and ports, Shezi said recovery plans were under way with about 80% of its workforce returning.
“Transnet continues to prioritise the safety of employees and assets”.
Cape Times