Satawu calls off strike
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) members are discussing their next plan of action, after having to call off their planned national strike to shut down all coastal ports from Thursday morning.
Members of the union threatened to bring the country's ports to a standstill over claims of salary discrepancies.
However, Satawu spokesperson, Zanele Sabela, says they have been forced to call off the strike after Transnet turned to the labour court for an urgent interdict against the industrial action.
"Judgement has been reserved until September 5, which literally says we could not go on strike today."
The union says they view this as a delay tactic on the side of Transnet.
Sabela says they have been in several negotiations with the employer, but their grievances have fallen on deaf ears.
"This is an issue that has to be dealt with, workers on the ground are unhappy about the situation. When we look at what the judge has done in reserving the judgement, he is effectively saying to us we must find amicable ways to deal with the situation, and as Satawu we will be regrouping to find ways to decide how we can take this forward," says Sabela.
Workers that include marine pilots, tug masters and chief marine engineering officers form part of the group who had to call off their strike.
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