Cape Town - Metrorail says it will activate a contingency plan to make sure that operations are "as normal a service as possible" when Satawu starts its planned strike on Thursday.
The strike action did not mean that there would be no trains operating, Metrorail Western Cape said on Wednesday.
Regional manager Richard Walker in a statement advised commuters and employers to stay up do date by listening to public address announcements, radio station traffic updates and Metrorail’s social media communication for any changes in the schedule.
"We will be communicating as events unfold to ensure that we inform customers as soon as possible," he said.
The SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) is demanding an end to outsourcing, the permanent employment of fixed-term contract workers, a salary alignment with workers in other provinces, and the removal of Walker, who the union describes as "incompetent".
Satawu's Luntu Sokutu said the strike would continue until the Passenger Rail Agency of SA met their demands.
Walker said, while the company respected employees’ right to strike, it condemned any form of intimidation of fellow employees or commuters.
"Allegations have already surfaced of employees being threatened not to report for work tomorrow," he said.
"We strongly condemn any form of violence/intimidation during the strike action and urge anyone subjected to any form of intimidation to immediately report this to the nearest police station so that offenders can be brought to book."
The police’s rapid rail unit and Metrorail’s protection services staff would be on high alert to "ensure order in the system", Walker said.