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Johannesburg - The SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) on Wednesday agreed "in principle" with Transnet's new wage offer, the parastatal said.
"Transnet today (Wednesday) initiated further mediation with labour through the [Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration], the outcome of which was a once-off ex-gratia payment to all bargaining sector employees," spokesperson John Dludlu said in a statement.
"The breakthrough, aimed at ending the strike by Satawu, was agreed in principle with the union which undertook to go through their approval processes with the view to signing it by noon tomorrow at the very latest," he said.
Satawu general secretary Zenzo Mahlangu said the union would decide by 14:00 on Thursday what to do with Transnet's new offer.
"We are communicating with our members through provincial leaders and it will be clear by 14:00 tomorrow (Thursday) what they want," said Mahlangu.
Satawu workers started a strike against Transnet on May 10, demanding a 15 percent wage increase. Transnet was offering 11 percent.
Satawu's fellow union, the United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) embarked on the strike with Satawu for a few days before deciding at the end of last week to accept the 11 percent offer.
"All I can say right now is they gave us what we wanted, just in a different form.
"We are quite hopeful that we will be able to sign an agreement with Transnet tomorrow," said Mahlangu.
The strike had already cost the agricultural sector more than R1bn, Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson said earlier this week.
Business Unity SA (Busa) estimated that the strike had cost the economy about R7bn.
Meanwhile, Transnet said striking workers had caused R30m in damages to its equipment.
Satawu issued secondary strike notices to several port-related companies on Monday, warning that sympathy strikes would follow if there was no resolution by June 1.
The countrywide labour action has affected freight rail, rail engineering, ports, port terminals and pipeline services.
- Sapa