Union hits out at Metrorail

Johannesburg - The United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) has accused Metrorail of ignoring the union as it tried to clarify the employer's latest wage offer.

On Thursday, Utatu said in a statement it had suspended its proposed strike action while it waited to meet Metrorail after a new wage offer was tabled.

"It seems as though Metrorail management are just ignoring us and we will never get a mandate to accept the offer if there is no clear understanding of the agreement," said Utatu general secretary Chris de Vos.

He added that he was concerned about the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) "that could render workers far worse off". He said Utatu was trying to communicate with the employers to get a clear understanding of the proposed agreement, but it had received no response.

He added that it was important for Utatu to get an understanding of the complicated issues referred to in the draft agreement. The union and employer had to meet "so that we can extensively discuss our concerns and ensure that our workers are not going to suffer due to full compliance with the BCEA", De Vos said.

While an 8% wage increase was better than what was previously offered, De Vos said other sectors had settled at a much higher percentage "and this makes our mandating process very difficult".

Earlier this week, the other union involved in the wage dispute, the SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) said the latest offer was a "move" from the seven percent originally offered.

"The employers have met us halfway by giving eight percent," said Satawu's sector co-ordinator Lubabalo Tinzi.

The unions have demanded a nine percent wage increase. Samwu said it would use this week to brief its members on the new offer.

"The employer will get a report-back on Monday," said Tinzi. A strike in the railway sector would leave an estimated 1.5 million commuters stranded.

- Sapa