More Transnet strike turmoil

Johannesburg - Transnet worker unions will forge ahead with their strike on Tuesday following failed mediation talks with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration over the weekend, Utatu said on Monday.

The United Transport and Allied Trade Union and members of the SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union would march to parliament to
hand a memorandum to Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele on Tuesday, general secretary Chris de Vos said.

"The strike is continuing. Indication we got from (Transnet) management is that we shouldn't try and talk to them. We should only call when we are prepared to accept their offer," he said.

The march to parliament was expected to start at 11:00. De Vos would not say what the unions would include in their memorandum to Ndebele.

"It will be very unfair for him to read about it from the media."

Transnet, which had suffered estimated damage of R30m due to the strike, maintained on Monday it would "keep our door open for genuine talks to seek a solution to the dispute when the unions are ready for a realistic and fair settlement.

"The company has made a fair and generous offer of 11% increase on all pensionable earnings," spokesperson John Dludlu said
in a statement.

"The package offer, which includes meaningful allowances for employees not yet receiving a medical allowance, results in a total
cost to company of 11.2%  and is within the limits of affordability and reasonableness."

The unions, who initially wanted a 15% increase, dropped their demand in talks at the weekend to an unmandated 12%, De Vos said.

- Sapa