Johannesburg - Striking unions at Transnet on Wednesday
asked the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to
intervene in their wage dispute.
"The CCMA must intervene to help resolve this national
strike of 35 000 workers to avoid harming the economy," the Federation of
Unions of SA and its affiliate the United Transport and Allied Trade Union said
in a joint statement.
Utatu joined striking SA Trade and Allied Workers Union
(Satawu) members on Wednesday. Both unions had rejected Transnet wage increase
offer of 11%, demanding 15%.
Fedusa general secretary Dennis George said they had written
to CCMA director Nerine Khan to "assist us by conciliating the
negotiations between Utatu and Transnet to avoid a drawn-out strike that could
cripple the economy.
"We also do not want to expose our members to a strike
that has the potential to become volatile, as we have already heard of
widespread reports of intimidation, violence and damage to property,"
George said.
Transnet spokesperson John Dludlu said the parastatal
remained open to negotiations, but cautioned that the 15% the union wanted
could fuel wage inflation.
"It will drive up our operating costs as a company and
force Transnet to either raise the prices it charges its customers and even
consider cutting jobs.
"As a responsible publicly-owned company, we are
reluctant to go down this path... it is not in the interest of our employees,
customers or the country," Dludlu said in a statement.
Eighty-five percent of the workforce was on strike and he
admitted operations were affected.
Transnet employed nearly 54 000 people. Satawu represents
39% and Utatu 45% of these workers.
"The strike does have an impact. Nobody wins in a
strike situation. Our focus right now is protecting our assets, property and
the people and ensuring that we move key commodities required in the
country," he said.
Destruction of property
Dludlu cautioned against strikers resorting to violence and
destruction of property.
A freight train derailed, possibly due to sabotage by
strikers, in Burlington near Mount Vernon in KwaZulu-Natal early on Wednesday,
resulting in 10 000 litres of diesel being spilt.
"The wilful destruction of Transnet property, assets
and the targeted attacks against our employees who are exercising their
democratic right to work is unacceptable.
"We are concerned that the longer the strike persists,
the harder it becomes... to restore calm and the greater the damage to Transnet
and the broader economy."
Transnet obtained a court interdict on Tuesday to prevent
striking workers from "unlawfully interfering with business or activities
of Transnet".
The Democratic Alliance said the 11 percent offer was almost
double the current inflation rate.
"These two unions [are] attempting to use the World Cup
as leverage to achieve what are, objectively, not reasonable wage increase
expectations," the party said in a statement.
- Sapa