Transnet strikers cause huge damage

Johannesburg – Striking Transnet workers in the last week have caused more than R20m in damage to the group's equipment, acting group CEO Chris Wells said on Friday. 

Wells said in an open letter to employees, that in the last week, more than half of Transnet workers have been on strike. "The striking staff have every right to strike. However, strikers have caused more than R20m in damages to our equipment and put the lives of innocent people in danger.

The 'no work, no pay' rule applies. If a colleague who earns a net wage of R11 000 per month remains on strike for the rest of the month, he will lose R7 500 and he will only receive R3 500 in his May salary.

"Tere is no need for our colleagues to sacrifice their salaries. Transnet remains committed to an 11% increase on pensionable earnings. We invite all our colleagues to return to work peacefully so that they can earn a decent wage in May and we can get South Africa's economy moving," he said. 

Wells thanked those who chose to work this week. 

"Throughout this week, we saw hardworking and committed colleagues moving critical commodities. We were able to move [2001] Fifa Soccer World Cup commodities successfully. In our container terminals, we showed higher than normal levels of efficiency and productivity. I would like to pass on the gratitude we received from many parts of the country," he said. 

"We need calm and committed leadership in order to resolve this strike. Over the last five years, we have enjoyed a constructive relationship with labour. We are confident that we can count on mature leadership on both sides to resolve this conflict. We are committed to a peacefully negotiated settlement which is fair and affordable," he said.

- I-Net Bridge