SOUTH AFRICA: Strikers march as rail, port strike widens

Record ID: 338530

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Strikers march as rail, port strike widens
  • Date: 18th May 2010
  • Summary: PRASA MANAGEMENT LOOKING ON TRANSNET SIGN ACTING PRASA CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, TUMISANG KGABOESELE, SIGNING MEMORANDUM POLICE OFFICERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SECRETARY GENERAL, SOUTH AFRICAN TRANSPORT AND ALLIED WORKERS UNION, XOLANI NYAMAZELA, SAYING: "It's so unfortunate that the strike in Transnet is not showing any signs of coming to an end because of arrogance th
  • Embargoed: 2nd June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Employment,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVA8KY9JVSOJN24FXEGN9V1C6YHK
  • Story Text: Thousands of South African workers on strike took to the streets of Johannesburg on Monday (May 17) shortly after a rail and port strike has been widened, threatening to bring Africa's biggest economy to a standstill.
    The industrial action, which entered a second week, has left around two million train passengers stranded.
    Weekend talks to end the strike over pay at state-owned logistics group Transnet failed and both the company and unions said no new negotiations were planned.
    The United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu), and the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu), have asked union federations Fedusa and Cosatu to join the strike.
    On Monday Utatu and Satawu also began a strike at South Africa's Passenger Rail Agency (Prasa) halting all commuter rail operations.
    Under a heavy police guard the strikers marched on the Prasa offices. They chanted songs and held up defying placards.
    One of the protest leaders accused Transnet management of arrogance and held it responsible for the standoff.
    "It's so unfortunate that the strike in Transnet is not showing any signs of coming to an end because of arrogance that is with the management of Transnet. Instead of talking to us, engaging us they are wasting thousands and millions of rands in newspaper adverts- insulting us, vilifying us saying all these funny things they want to say about us, that is very much unfortunate," said Xolani Myamazela, Secretary-General of South African Transport and Allied Workers Union.
    The strike has dented exports of metals, fruit and wine to customers in Europe and Asia and slowed imports of automotive parts after nearly two-thirds of Transnet's 54,000-strong workforce joined in.
    So far fuel supplies in South Africa and coal shipments to Europe and Asia have not been disrupted, officials said.
    The strike is the latest protest in the country ahead of next month's soccer World Cup, and FIFA said imports of some equipment for the event have been affected.
    The unions want at least a 12 percent pay rise, while Transnet says it cannot afford more than 11 percent. The two unions represent some 85 percent of Transnet's staff, and their action has paralysed two-thirds of the company's services. However some workers returned to work on Monday, saying they could not afford to lose more income due.
    Analysts and the central bank have criticised the unions, saying pay rises well above the 5.1 percent inflation rate would slow South Africa's economic recovery.
    The government urged an early resolution to the passenger services action to minimise the impact on commuters and reduce the risk of violence by frustrated passengers.
    Economists could not put an exact figure on losses from the strike, especially since many companies had anticipated industrial action and build up their inventories, but some estimated the loss in the hundreds of millions of rand.
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