Talks to avoid ‘crippling’ Gautrain strike
Management at Gautrain’s parent company, Bombela is locked in wage talks with labour amid a threat of strike action by hundreds of workers.
Meetings are taking place after the United National Transport Union (UNTU) threatened a strike aimed at crippling the transport provider.
Workers, including those selling train tickets, drivers, operators and guards are expected to embark on the strike over wages.
UNTU has delivered a 48-hour notice for a protected strike from Monday.
“The majority have indicated that they have had enough, but I think this is a long time coming. There is a major discontent between the employees and management team and this has just been building up,” says the union’s general-secretary, Steve Harris.
Employees are demanding a 10% increase, while Bombela is offering workers 8.5%.
According to Harris, workers are also demanding R20 000 incentive bonuses and a housing allowance of R1 600.
“There are about 500 junior employees in the company, on the operating side, and we represent about 67% of them. If the vast majority of the 67% go on strike – I’m pretty sure they will not be able to run a full service.”
Gautrain and UNTU confirmed that meetings will take place on Tuesday. The transport provider is expected to provide more details on Wednesday.