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Johannesburg - Trade union federation Cosatu says it is shocked that the costs of the open road tolling system for Gauteng's highways keep on escalating.
The escalating implementation costs of the tolling system are "a vindication of our view that the tolls are a modern form of the privatisation of public roads".
The labour federation said the tolls would impose a great additional burden on road users, while generating huge profits for those who had installed it.
"The tolls will have a particularly devastating impact on workers who drive to work. They will lead to big price increases in the shops to cover the increased cost of transporting goods, and some companies may even be forced out of business and have to retrench workers because of their increased transport costs," it said.
Cosatu said it issued a notice under Section 77 of the Labour Relations Act and negotiations to review the tolls were continuing under the auspices of the National Economic Development and Labour Council.
The federation has also requested a meeting with Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele to discuss "our demand for a safe, affordable, integrated and efficient public transport system".
"If there is no change in policy from government and the negotiations deadlock, we shall be planning marches, demonstrations, pickets and stayaways, and taking strike action if the tolls are not scrapped," it said.
The escalating implementation costs of the tolling system are "a vindication of our view that the tolls are a modern form of the privatisation of public roads".
The labour federation said the tolls would impose a great additional burden on road users, while generating huge profits for those who had installed it.
"The tolls will have a particularly devastating impact on workers who drive to work. They will lead to big price increases in the shops to cover the increased cost of transporting goods, and some companies may even be forced out of business and have to retrench workers because of their increased transport costs," it said.
Cosatu said it issued a notice under Section 77 of the Labour Relations Act and negotiations to review the tolls were continuing under the auspices of the National Economic Development and Labour Council.
The federation has also requested a meeting with Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele to discuss "our demand for a safe, affordable, integrated and efficient public transport system".
"If there is no change in policy from government and the negotiations deadlock, we shall be planning marches, demonstrations, pickets and stayaways, and taking strike action if the tolls are not scrapped," it said.
