10 July 2009

SATAWU response to the City Press Article on 14 June 2009 "Two unions survive deregistration scare" by Loyiso Sidimba

The SATAWU National Office Bearers met on 7 & 8 July 2009 discussed the article published in the City Press on 14 June 2009. The leadership felt strongly that we respond to the article which deliberately positioned as a union being under threat of deregistration at 31 March 2009 and created serious concerns among our members and staff on the ground about the status of the union. 

Satawu wishes to categorically state that: 

1. The article was extremely misleading in that presented the union as under threat of deregistration as a result of non compliance with the relevant sections of the Labour Relations Act

2. Whilst we concede that were sighted in the government gazette in the first period of the merger between 2000 - 2003 as not having complied but since then we have met with the Registrar's office and agreed an approach on how to deal with challenges should they arise.

3. We have consistently communicated with the Registrar's office when there were delays with our audit as an example as per the agreed approach referred to above              

4. The Registrar's office in 2007 provided written information to a prospective employer in Pretoria where Satawu was seeking recognition.

We challenged the Registrar's office and accused him of having an agenda against the union and colluding with another union. The letter from his office was widely circulated by the rival union on company notice boards which again positioned Satawu in a negative light among our members. The Registrar's office defended their action using the Access to Information Act as justification. We rejected their response and stated that we will elevate the matter to the office of the Director General and the Minister of Labour's respectively  if necessary as we believe Johan Crouse has a vendetta against our union.

5. There was no threat of deregistration as at 31 March 2009 as there was no sighting of Satawu in any government gazette as stated in the article.

6. The Registrar's office must be transformed with immediate effect from the top.

7. Serious challenges of inefficiencies in his office must also be addressed as information is often misplaced and lost in the back office. 

The National Office Bearers demands from the Registrar that he act fairly and consistently and stop making misleading statements in the media about our union as we reiterate it to be "absolute rubbish". Satawu demands that he stops his hidden agenda against us and stops colluding with rival unions.

Whilst Satawu remains fully committed to comply with all relevant sections of the LRA and cooperate with the Registrar's office but only on the basis that the integrity and credibility of his office is unquestionable. Any further attempts by his office to undermine and discredit Satawu will be met with a mass campaign to remove him from office permanently.     

 Randall Howard - General Secretary

 

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10 July 2009

Meeting with Minister of Public Enterprises

The Satawu National Office Bearers met with the Minister and Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises on 8 July 2009.  

The meeting was premised on a good footing as the minister apologized for the late response to our invitation (one month), committed to periodic strategic engagements with Satawu and reassured the Satawu leadership that she is not wedded to privatization and accepts that there must be an enhanced strategic role for state owned enterprises albeit they confront serious challenges given the worse economic climate globally and locally.

The meeting was frank yet constructive and broadly discussed and agreed on the following;

1.The appointments of the CEO's and Boards with regard to ethical management, efficiency and viability of state owned enterprises in view of the recent South African Airways experience. 

2.Appointments of CEO's for Transnet and South African Airways will be done soon as we need to strong, effective and ethical leadership based on a value system of service and not a mindset of looting through incentive schemes like retention bonus as happened in SAA. The review being conducted of all Boards was welcomed as their role is very important in ensuring effective oversight particularly with regard to strong governance, compliance and delivery by executive management. 

3.With regard to Satawu's demand to remove Bulelani Ngcuka from the Transnet Board, a fundamental disagreement was recorded but agreed to revisit the issue at a later stage    

4.The minister, whilst recognizing the role played by Satawu at SAA with regard to exposing serious allegations of corruption and conflict of interests which is now a subject of an independent investigation by KPMG, it was agreed that the representation of trade unions on Boards and the appropriate form it can take will be further discussed 

5.The meeting reflected on the serious challenges facing SAA in particular both financial and operational, it was agreed in the light of the removal of the Khaya Ngcula under a cloud that the appointment of a new CEO and Board is critically important to continue the turnaround process with a view to stabilize the airline, improve the moral of employees and intensify transformation.   

6. It was also agreed that the SAA strike settlement reached in March 2009 with regard to the processes committed to by the department  on the controversial issue of retention bonus payments to 127 managers and the once off payment of R10 000.00 will be taken up urgently with a view to find a solution as workers have become impatient and suspicious given that strike was suspended on the understanding that the department will be given an opportunity to address the demands.           

7. With regard to the role of state owned enterprises it was agreed to a further engagement focusing on the following: 

        1. The 6 - 12 months acclimatization process by the ministry to fully understand the environment in             which all SOE's operate   

        2. The impact of the Regulatory environment on certain state owned enterprises like Transnet             National Port Authority (TNPA) given Independent Port Regulator in place and the anticipated             Rail Regulator interacting Transnet Rail Freight (TFR) among others 3. Funding models linked to             strategies that could enhance financial strength in certain SOE's to execute their mandate of             infrastructure delivery 4. Strategies to enhance the skills and capacity through training of             apprentices among others 5. Using of preferential procurement strategies to contribute local             economic development and job creation  

8. The meeting concluded on the basis that it was a fruitful first strategic exchange and periodic engagements will be continued. The minister expressed confidence in the Satawu leadership's ability to contribute to the strategic and policy direction of SOE's given our experience in restructuring processes.

Satawu left the meeting satisfied that we will not see under Minister Hogan's shopstewardship any wholesale privatization albeit that we have to manage a tough economic environment in responding to the global recession by using SOE's for enhanced public investment to mitigatethese difficult times.     

 Randall Howard - General Secretary

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6 July 2009

SATAWU calls on the Ministers of Transport and Labour  respectively to urgently investigate ways to act against SA  Roadlink given the death of another twelve passengers

SATAWU wishes to extend its heartfelt and sincerest condolences to all the families and relatives of the twelve passengers who died yesterday in another fatal accident involving Roadlink in the Karoo. SATAWU is of the view that if Roadlink is not stopped from operating on South African roads their contribution to carnage and death will continue. Their decision to conduct an internal investigation is rejected under the circumstances as we are concerned about the possibility of manipulated outcomes to ensure their continued operations.   

SATAWU urgently calls:

1. An independent investigation into all aspects of SA Roadlink operations by the National Department of Transport with a view to remove their operating license 2. The Department of Labour to conduct inspections in loco at all operations with a view to expose any non compliance 3. Workers not to be intimidated by management by responding positively to Satawu's recruiting efforts in order to gain access through becoming the sole bargaining agent, improve workers lives at work and expose the company's alleged  malpractices in regard to labour laws or operations 4. Long distance bus passengers to stop using SA Roadlink as they are putting their lives at risk with no guarantee of arriving safely at their destinations                 

5. Government through the Department of Transport (national and provincial) who has a political and moral responsibility to protect its citizens from operators like SA Roadlink whose busses can only be aptly described as "busses of death" given the death of almost 25 passengers to date since 2007.

6. Convene an urgent meeting with the Ministries of Transport and Labour to discuss the urgent interventions that may be applied   

SATAWU

Randall Howard - General Secretary

 

 

12 June 2009

SATAWU is once again vindicated!

Response to the statement by the CCMA with regard to the wage agreement reached in the Private Security Services industry on 30 April 2009.

The wage agreement reached in the Private Security Sector has marked a milestone in the sector that remains dominated by exploitation, low wages, disregard for labour legislation and bargaining processes as outlined in the Labour Relations Act. Our members and workers continue to feel under valued as the majority of security bosses appear incapable and unwilling to change their mindset to appreciate their employees by sharing the profit they make on a more equitable basis in pursuit of decent work of which a living wage is part.

However the agreement goes a long way in attempting to improve wages and working conditions of security workers in a sector that remains largely unwilling to transform, e.g.:

·        The 11, 5% salary increase at Grade E in year one with an equivalent flat rand value increase to the basic salaries on other grades;

·        A CPI + 2% increase in the second and third years at the lowest grade with an equivalent flat rand value increase to basic salaries on the other grades;

·        Phasing out of Grade E and Area 4 in the Determination;

·        Introduction of specialised Supervisory, Armed Response, Armed Officer, Controller and NKP allowances at R 5.50 per shift;

·        Improved maternity benefits and the extension of the Provident Fund benefits to all employees employed in the sector 

·        Eradication of the use of fixed term contracts and independent labour brokers who promotes abuse and exploitative practices

This sector has provided some lessons in the bargaining arena with regard to the establishment of a Framework Agreement that regulates the representation of parties, conduct of parties and status of the agreement in an industry that operates without a bargaining council. We believe that the model created by the security sector should be adopted by all those sectors, particular vulnerable ones that operate without bargaining councils, so as to strengthen the bargaining mechanism as encouraged by the Labour Relations Act.

The agreement should be used as a good example of the negotiation processes required in dealing with current market challenges. What is most outstanding about the agreement was the processes embarked upon to reach it particularly in comparison to the model used before ie characterized by failed negotiations, employer collusion with minority unions, undermining of SATAWU which ultimately led to the protracted bloody strike of 2006.

Whilst not representing the employer organizations we believe they are in full agreement with us that the signing of this agreement has led to a significant improvement in relations and communication between the parties which ensured there is no repeat of the 2006 strike with regard to violence.

As SATAWU whilst acknowledging we have a long way to go in changing the mindset of employers’, we wish to congratulate the employer negotiators for the constructive and mature approach adopted in this round of negotiation.

This approach resonated with the labour negotiators who felt they were engaging with an employer team who were demonstrating that they had broken with the 2006 mindset of undermining SATAWU. 

We also wish to highly commend the role played by the CCMA in facilitating agreement on the Collective Bargaining Framework on which the negotiations took place. They also ensured that parties seriously concentrate on negotiations in a focused manner thereby managing the dispute that avoided a formal deadlock and thus industrial action.

SATAWU is once again vindicated! SATAWU has once again demonstrated to the South African public that it was not responsible for the crisis as result of the 2006 strike.

SATAWU however, notes with great concern the attitude that continues to be displayed by certain sections of the fourth estate which completely ignored the wage negotiation process including the progressive agreement that was reached on 30 April 2009. In sum it was regarded as non-newsworthy story!

SATAWU therefore strongly warns the editors of the media houses who decides on what is printed and recorded not to send a message to poor security workers in South Africa that it is only through mayhem and violence that your struggles for decent work and a living wage will receive coverage.

SATAWU expects nothing less than ethical and balanced journalism both in the public and private news industry with regard to the plight of vulnerable workers in South Africa.

Please contact SATAWU General Secretary Randall Howard @ 082 564 6298 and Jackson Simon @ 079 495 3640 for further comment.

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12 June 2009

Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT)

A SATAWU delegation attended the national consultative meeting held between government and the taxi industry as observers. Government through the Deputy Minister of Transport outlined its plans to implement the BRT system and the timeframes within which stakeholder structures will be established where those with concerns including the taxi industry can raise it.

SATAWU has supported and will continue to support government in its drive to implement the BRT system as a "basis for integrating the lawless, deregulated, non-compliant with all labour legislation and outside of the tax net" taxi industry into a formal regulated public transport system. Whilst the taxi bosses continue to criticize and frustrate governments efforts this is only intended to avoid operating within a legal and regulated framework where the laws of the jungle, violence and deregulation no longer apply. 

SATAWU since 1994 have supported government's vision working with former Minister Maharaj, late Minister Dullah Omar, former Minister Radebe to achieve the regulation and integration of the taxi industry into the overall public transport system in providing safe, affordable and reliable transport services to all our working class communities who remain dependent on public transport to conduct their daily economic and social activities of which the taxi industry transports 60%.

As SATAWU we were persuaded to give the taxi bosses a chance to be educated about labour legislation and collective bargaining as they were quite hostile to unions and needed to be orientated. This orientation process has passed its sell by date as the attitude remains anti union.

In 2009, through SATAWU’s campaigning, government put in place a minimum floor of rights for vulnerable taxi workers in the form of the Sectoral Determination. None of the taxi associations in South Africa have complied with the basic conditions that taxi workers are entitled to in law. The Department of Labour remains particularly weak in building the capacity to enforce and prosecute.

This situation must change now and SATAWU is going to intensify its campaign to organize in taxi ranks as workplaces until the mindset of taxi bosses change so that exploited workers can have real access to rights and improve their conditions of employment! The Department of Labour must target large associations for prosecution and prove that the law can bite with regard to non compliance of labour legislation!  

The lawless continues and trade union rights continue to be undermined.

The taxi industry has not embraced the new value-system which is enshrined in the country's constitution and in the LRA with regard to freedom of association. Taxi bosses remain hostile to trade unions and where we have made in roads into certain associations like the Kempton Park Taxi Association (KETA) eight of our shop stewards have allegedly been assassinated for purely exercising their constitutional right to associate with SATAWU. The South African Police Services have also proved ineffective in bringing to book those responsible for the alleged brutal murders.

Similarly, with regard to the campaign by the Department of Labour for taxi associations to register their employees with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), they have not complied. SATAWU can confirm that lonely 5000 employees have been registered to date. It is in this context that SATAWU calls on its members and taxi workers in general in South Africa to go the UIF offices and inform the officials that their employer has failed to register them. In turn SATAWU calls on the UIF Commissioner that they send officials out to those associations even under police protection to ensure compliance as there is no other way to extend benefits.

SATAWU will also engage the newly appointed Minister of Transport to consider making the granting of operating licenses subject to compliance with all relevant labour legislation as a prerequisite lest we remain in this anti-union, violent and deregulated environment for another 15 years.

The taxi industry bosses, regardless of who their organizations are, must take a hard look at themselves and stop demanding from government and society informed only by their own narrow profiteering interests and threats of violence.

In this lies the irony that the same taxi drivers they claim to be concerned about with regard to jobs are the same drivers that they refuse the right to join trade unions and refuse to comply with the basic conditions intended to improve their lives.

Randall Howard - 082564 6298

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7 May 2009

Transnet unions declare wage dispute

Satawu, together with Utatu, yesterday declared a dispute with the Group after wage talks broke down in the Transnet Bargaining Council. Satawu (Cosatu) and Utatu (Fedusa) are the two recognised trade unions in the Transnet Group.

The dispute was declared after Transnet failed to budge off its zero percent “offer” which it had tabled previously. The opening demand of the unions was 20%, which has been adjusted down to 12%. The company also failed to adequately respond to other demands including a demand for improved maternity and pregnancy rights, parity in various allowances across the Divisions, and an undertaking to agree a timetable for the implementation of a new grading and salary progression system. Currently, as a result of the unilateral removal of a previous notch system, most workers in Transnet have no path for pay progression within a grade.

The unions are mindful of the decrease in volumes and therefore revenues which Transnet has suffered as a result of the economic downturn. However our members have actively participated in a wide range of cost cutting activities, including a reduction in overtime and the redeployment of staff. For many, their real incomes have already declined as a result. A wage freeze is simply unacceptable. Transnet is continuing with its R80bn capital investment programme, so why the reluctance to continue to invest in its people? Skilled workers in the Group are already underpaid relative to the market, resulting in a dire shortage of electricians, traction linesmen, engineering technicians, millwrights, diesel fitters and diesel electrical fitters. What is additionally irking our members is the fact that at the end of the 2007/08 financial year, bonuses totalling R41.6m were paid to executive managers. There are also strong rumours of retention bonuses (ala the SAA scandal) having recently been paid to some managers. The management negotiators in the wage talks were not willing to confirm or deny this rumour.

Management will no doubt publicly defend its proposed wage freeze by arguing that it came with a commitment not to retrench any workers in this financial year. But there are other ways of avoiding retrenchments which we would rather explore in the appropriate consultative forum. Using the threat of retrenchments as a bargaining chip in wage negotiations is not correct or fair to workers.

A conciliator will now be appointed in an attempt to settle the dispute. If it is not settled, there is every possibility of strike action by Transnet’s 55,000 rail, engineering, port and pipeline employees.

For further information contact : Randall Howard 082 5646298 or Jane Barrett 082 8278561 or on 011 3336127

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WHY PAY TRUCK DRIVERS SLAVE SALARIES IF OUR ECONOMY DEPENDS ON THEM EXECUTING THEIR DUTIES CONSISTENTLY? ASKS BENZI KA-SOKO.

The on-going strike by truck drivers is, to a certain extent, an indication that labour relations in South Africa is still adversarial and confrontational. It is particularly disturbing that in order for a wage deal to be struck, employees and employers should and must via the route of exchanging serious physical blows through strikes and lockouts. And this physical exchange of blows does not come cheap: hundreds of millions of rand are lost in the process both in employee wages and company or institutional revenue.

Mention should be made of the fact that it seems both government and private sector do not have respect for workers whose labour is the only reason that this country is up and running. The arrogance of the private sector and government is the reason that our country is currently facing the crippling strike action.

It is against this background that we should make a clear analysis of labour relations in South Africa. It is a fact that most if not all workers on the grassroots are still meagerly paid in this country. In fact, many of our poor black workers still receive slave salaries despite the promulgation and implementation of the new progressive labour laws that came as a result of the general democratization of South Africa.

It is clear that the “new” employer in South Africa still displays arrogance and intransigence, bulldog tactics that are exactly akin to those displayed by apartheid employers. We have highly paid executives, some doing nothing except reading newspapers the whole day while workers are working hard, who seem not to have human feeling for the workers on the ground floor. For starters, it should be clearly stated that the poor workers only demand a decent salary to support their poverty-stricken families.

The bosses on the other hand, earn millions of rand including highly-obessed bonuses that can support hundreds of families if they could be correctly channelled. For instance, a director in the DCS pockets a whopping R 800.000 per annum whereas the hard working foot soldier is given a paltry R 70.000 per annum. It is the same situation with the truck drivers who earn peanuts while the fat cat transport moguls steal all the millions for themselves and their families. This wage gap stinks to high heavens. Our life-saving nurses are living the country en masse due to the fact that they are receiving embarrassing slave salaries despite their profession being declared a scarce skill. Why this Animal Farm scenario?

We have incompetent councillors, administrators and municipal managers who earn shockingly high salaries yet there is virtually no delivery of services for poor people on the ground. Conversely, the hard working SAMWU and SATAWU members are forced to accept slave salaries and expected to live normal and sustainable lives with their families.

It is surely indignating that mineworkers in South Africa’s gold and other mines are earning less than R5000 a month whereas it is these hardworking mineworkers that make our mines the giants that they are today. It is these hardworking mineworkers whose sweat and toil make “our” mining moguls billionaires of our time. Why should mine executives earn millions of rands whilst the real diggers of gold are given peanuts? This is capitalist garbage that we should defeat at all costs.

According to recent research, it has been estimated that South Africa currently has 40% unemployment rate and due to continuing retrenchment in the labour market, this percentage is certainly expected to skyrocket. As a consequence, we should also expect the increase in crime statistics because these unemployed people should also have something to eat and sustain their families. How do we expect poor, unemployed people to live if they don’t have means through which they should make a living?

Whilst poor people battle to defeat these odds, the lives of the arrogant bosses and their families continue to flourish and blossom. Their children get the best education this country can provide. They live in plush highly expensive houses whilst the poor workers are condemned to suffer in infrastructurally bankrupt informal settlements.

 Let me quickly mention the fact that there is nothing wrong with some people living in leafy suburbs of this country but the argument is that other people should not be deliberately marginalized and exploited so that they are kept as perpetual slaves. If given job opportunities and adequately-paid, the poor can also be able to enjoy a better life just like the highly paid arrogant bosses. There should be genuine equitable distribution of all the resources in this country. All, that is, economic, financial, land, I mean all in the true sense of the word.

I recently had a heated debate with some few individuals who have been fortunate through various endeavors to become relatively successful in their business or places of work. I was shocked by their arrogance and naïve pomposity as they continue to claim that there are no poor people in this country but it is just that people are lazy.

I was extremely disturbed by this bankruptcy and lack of understanding of our colonial past whose horrible legacy still continues to haunt us terribly. These newly born young capitalists even argued that poor black people should not engage in love making or sexual intercourse in order to avoid producing children that would become exposed to hunger, poverty and other socio economic ills. I couldn’t believe my ears how irrational and intellectually naïve newborn capitalists can become. Surely if not consistently challenged and correctly schooled in basic studies of political economy, these individuals are sure to become economic exploiters of the future. The class struggle continues.

All the unions currently engaged in industrial action should intensify the fight until their noble demands are met. Poor people are perpetuated by the continued intransigence and arrogance of the bosses who do not want to budge when coming to paying decent salaries to those they regard as sub-human, the OTHER. Aluta Continua!!!!!

 Benzi Ka-Soko is POPCRU National Spokesperson.

082 732 6324

benzis@popcru.org.za

 

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24 March 2009

 

SATAWU RESPONSE TO THE UTATU POSITION ON THE CUTTING OF OVERTIME AT TRANSNET FREIGHT RAIL IN SOWETAN OF 18 FEBRUARY 2008

The proposal to cut overtime must be put into proper perspective in that the Strategic Leadership Forum (SLF) in November 2008 received a presentation with regard to management’s view of the global down turn, in particular the credit crunch and its current and anticipated impact on the group and its operating divisions. In sum labour appreciated the pro active presentation and the difficult challenges ahead which will require a collective and intelligent approach to mitigate. Management in turn accepted that job losses must be treated as an absolute last resort as all other alternatives should be explored including cutting back on investment programmes and improving operational inefficiencies among others. A further discussion was held with the full time shop steward leadership in Transnet in December 2008 which further attempted to crystalise the challenges without necessarily arriving at concrete strategies.

This contextualization is provided to ensure that the proposal to cut overtime is not viewed in isolation from an integrated approach to be arrived as a package of strategic measures to navigate these difficult economic waters and decide trade-offs.

Transnet Freight Rail in meetings to date have presented a set of proposals which among others calls for a wage freeze in addition to cutting overtime. SATAWU has decided that the proposed mitigating measures be taken to members for discussion and mandating before any substantive engagements take place. Notwithstanding, we have principally decided that job losses and wage freeze cannot be considered trade-offs mainly for reasons relating to the tough economic environment and already high unemployment. A fundamental basis for joint management is that the CEO and his executive team   must sacrifice on an equal basis as employees with regard to their exorbitant salary packages and perks. Furthermore, we are coordinating an internal process to develop a strategic response at group and operational division level.

The issue of overtime must be viewed as a necessary operational option if and when required. The BCEA adequately deals with the management of overtime working arrangements. We agree with the observations made by UTATU with regard to the realities that workers face and the location of overtime in supplementing the basic pay in TFR historically.

However, overtime work cannot be viewed as a “holy cow” that can’t be touched under these trying circumstances even though inefficient management may have been the case. As correctly pointed by Jackie Walters that TFR is experiencing a decline in commodity demand and therefore makes a discussion, at the very least, about a reduction necessary

COSATU and SATAWU’s campaign to reduce workers’ dependence on overtime work to supplement their pay has always been informed by the objective of achieving a living wage through struggle to ensure that the basic take home pay are pitched levels that allows workers to take care of their economic and social responsibilities. It is our principle contention that in the reduction or eradication of overtime resides solidarity between employed organized workers and the army of the unemployed. SATAWU and UTATU must jointly campaign to break the dependence of employees on overtime and advance the struggle for a living wage in TFR and contribute to creating job opportunities for our unemployed sisters and brothers in the medium to long term.

Ultimately, Satawu is clear that should we agree, once mandated, to cutting back on overtime among others strategic measures is intended to avoid forced job losses and wage freezes whilst at the same time contributing as unions to the jointly managed process to ensure successful outcomes.

Finally, in this economic climate we do not need a fuming union who wants to continue its leverage of dominating skilled categories in a manipulating manner! We already have a structured process of engagement on the serious impact of the global meltdown and as trade unions we must now position ourselves as critical partners in mitigating the challenges created by the collapse of an inefficient, unaccountable and deregulated global financial system started in the bastion of capitalist system, the USA who is now utilizing corporate socialism never experienced before. The fact that the free market American state is now intervening in its own economy is a contradiction which demonstrates the fluidity of the situation. This an opportunity for us as a developing country to debunk the perpetual myth that the state has no business doing business by advancing the case for serious review of the global financial institutions underpinned by tighter regulations, accountability and fair trade. Our government together with labour and business has already recognized the need for state intervention to mitigate the impact on our economy and industries given the almost 40 000 jobs lost in the auto sector.

 We are not immune to the negative effects of the global down turn and therefore have a responsibility on behalf of all our members and employees in general to engage which ensure the following outcomes:

1.       Protect existing jobs

2.       Avoid the undermining of collective bargaining

3.       Avoid wage freezes

4.       Management sacrificing on equal basis

5.       Operational efficiency and financial viability

6.       Transform the safety culture to zero tolerance to effect huge savings

In conclusion, should the reduction of overtime present itself as a trade off for jobs SATAWU will undoubtedly choose jobs.

Written by the Satawu general secretary Randall Howard as a response to the comments made by Utatu general secretary Chris De Vos    

 

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SATAWU Press Release, National Road Freight Strike

16 February 2009

The national wage dispute reached in the road freight & logistics industry

The SATAWU National Road Freight Sector Shopsteward leadership met together their National Office Bearers to determine the state of readiness and the commencement of the strike with regard to the wage dispute declared on 28 January 2009.

The following provinces were present: Gauteng, Kwazulu Natal, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, North West and Limpopo.

The Road Freight & Logistics Industry employs about 70 000 workers of which 60 000 are covered under the National Road Freight Bargaining Council (NBCRFI) represented by the trade unions collectively.

The categories of workers to be involved are Extra-Heavy and Ultra-Heavy vehicle drivers, light vehicle drivers, artisans, fork lift drivers, gantry crane operators, loaders/packers and general workers among others.

IMPACT OF THE STRIKE

The impact of the strike will be felt in the following services: cash in transit, furniture removals, general freight and logistics which transportation of cash, fuel, chemicals, medical supplies, building supplies, perishable goods and livestock. The non transportation of building materials will definitely delay the 2010 construction work currently underway. The same will apply to the non- transportation of medical supplies and waste which could create a health hazard.   

SATAWU being the largest and most influential trade union represents about 25 000 workers. We will therefore be in the forefront of the struggle for a living wage together with other three unions focusing on increasing the minimum wages and improve the conditions of employment including maternity benefits.  

The council noted the following:

1.  The terms and conditions of employment remains very poor and minimum wages very low and makes it impossible for workers to mitigate the harsh economic realities they confront

2.  The perpetuation of apartheid practices as all the administrative categories are excluded from the bargaining council in which skilled mainly white workers reside

3.  The minimum wage remains very low and currently stands at R 883.88c per week for drivers and at R 579.16 per week for general workers

4.  The important social benefit of maternity leave which relates to the reproductive rights of women is non-existent as the financial vehicle established called the Reserve Fund does not exist. The Reserve Fund was intended to contribute 55% to complement the 45% from the UIF.

5.  Noted the mediation efforts which came to naught as employers are not prepared to consider increasing the minimum wages to acceptable levels even though it will have an impact on retaining and attracting skilled drivers

6.  The monopoly of the Imperial Group having bought out many companies must be addressed as it is appears to be exercising veto powers to block reasonable counter offers to avert a national strike

7.  The struggle against labour broking must be intensified in the context of the ANC Manifesto commitments to deal with the exploitative and abusive practices that it results from it for workers.

8.  The long working hours (currently at 45) remain a major challenge as it continues to negatively affect the quality of life of drivers with regard to the following: long periods away from their families, exposed to prostitution and becoming affected and infected with HIV/AIDS, ill health and fatigue resulting in jack knifing and collisions with serious fatalities.

STRIKE DATE

The council decided that sector stands ready to take forward the national strike to advance the struggle for a living wage and improve conditions of employment of all our members and employees in general.

The date for the national protected strike is set for the 15 March 2009 commencing at midnight and will be indefinite until our demands are satisfactorily met.

The notice will therefore be issued by 10 March 2009 to the bargaining council and the Road Freight Employers Association (RFEA).

 

PROGRAMME OF ACTION (POA)

The council decided to establish provincial strike committees and appoint chief coordinators at national and provincial levels to take responsibility for coordination, monitoring and effective communication and:

• Intensify mobilization at local and workplace levels by targeting strategic companies. Labour brokers like Workforce and Transman among others through marches and demonstrations.

• Mobilise solidarity from COSATU, its affiliates, International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and Mass Democratic Movement.  

• Recruit non union members including members of other trade unions as part of campaign.

 

MAJOR DEMANDS:

·        Minimum wage of R6000.00 per month for drivers

·        Minimum wage of R3000.00 per month for general workers

·        The Across the Board (ATB) 15%

·        Maternity Leave – Four months paid with job guarantee   

·        Extending the scope of the bargaining unit to include supervisors, clerical and administrative staff

·        New Allowances to include Danger (hazardous cargo) and Occupational allowances

 

EMPLOYER RESPONSES:

·        Minimum wage of 11% for drivers

·        Minimum wage of 10.5% for general workers

·        The Across the Board (ATB) 10.5%

·        Maternity Leave – Reserve Fund does not cater for maternity contributions

·        Extension of the bargaining unit – employers willing to accept extension subject to verification process

CONCLUSION

The National Office Bearers and Road Freight Sector leadership resolved to act in committed, united and determined manner to achieve victory on behalf all our members and employees in general. Therefore, call on all our shopstewards, members and organizers to intensify the mobilisation process at workplace in the build up to the 15 March 2009 to ensure a decisive and progressive victory. Finally, we remain willing to engage in negotiations to avert a national strike which if not resolved will have dire consequences for the economy in the context of the global downturn.

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SATAWU press statement responding to the second drug bust on contraband

 19 February 2009

SATAWU is extremely concerned about a second occurrence of contraband trafficking without weeks of the trafficking of cocaine and dagga allegedly by South African Airways cabin crew. This situation cannot be allowed to continue as it is highly embarrassing to our country, our people, the airline, all its employees who execute their duties on a daily basis with honesty and integrity. Given the recent negative publicity around perceptions and allegations around the CEO with regard to conflict of interests and procurement irregularities, now these allegations perpetuates the negative publicity.

 

SATAWU will call for an urgent meeting with the Board and the acting CEO to discuss interventions to stop crime and corruption in the airport environment.

SATAWU views it as very important that a joint anti crime and corruption campaign must be launched at all airports with a huge focus on OR Tambo international airport.

SATAWU believes that we confronting a serious challenge of international organized crime syndicates involving many stakeholders including employees in the crime chain.

SATAWU is therefore calling for an intensified efforts by all law enforcement agencies and airport stakeholders including labour to root out crime and corruption in the long term.

SATAWU calls on all its members and employees not to be attracted or incentivized through money by criminals operating at airports on a daily basis and thereby compromise their employment and personal reputations and bringing SAA into public embarrassment. The above mentioned joint campaign must be specifically targeted at employee orientation to encourage them desisting from becoming involved in such criminal activities.

SATAWU however believes that the majority of its members and employees are persons of integrity whose work ethic is of high quality and should

continue to do so.     

 

SATAWU

Randall Howard

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SATAWU STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO SAA BOARD’S DECISION ON THE ALLEGATION AGAINST THE CEO

Released:  11 February 2009

 

SATAWU welcomes the decision of the SAA board to establish a sub committee of non executive directors to oversee an independent investigation into the allegations raised.

Satawu also welcomes the commitment for disciplinary steps to be taken should the outcome of the investigation so warrant.

Satawu calls for urgency to be applied with regard to the timing and completion of the investigation  in order to ensure that the ongoing negative publicity affecting the public standing of the airline as a state owned enterprise and strategic corporate entity in South Africa and the globe can be ended..

Satawu believes that we have to arrive at  a point in which the airline, its clients, its shareholders and the tax payers can be reassured that the airline is being managed by ethical leadership who are committed to good corporate governance and sound financial administration.

The continued harbouring grey cloud that hangs over the credibility and integrity of the CEO must be resolved expeditiously through such an investigation.

Satawu while welcoming the decision of the SAA board in taking forward the directive of the Minister we felt that under the circumstances that such an investigation should have been conducted whilst the CEO steps aside either through suspension or special leave in order to lay the platform for the positive public repositioning of the airline.

Satawu believes that the CEO has lost his passion and commitment to the National Carrier and therefore notwithstanding the investigation we expected him to do the honourable thing under the circumstances and resign or be negotiated out of his contract.

Satawu will continue to advance the campaign against any form of crime and corruption at SAA and the Aviation environment in general and therefore this process must be seen as our contribution to good governance, clean and sound administration.

Satawu calls on all its shopstewards and members to continue delivering services on a daily basis that will ensure that all loyal SAA passengers continue to use SAA services even though the situation has had a demoralizing effect on all concerned.

Please contact the General Secretary, Randall Howard @ 082 564 6298 for further comments.

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SATAWU PRESS STATEMENT ON SETTLEMENT REACHED TODAY AS ORDER OF COURT  - 6 FEBRUARY 2009

SATAWU welcomes the settlement reached between Government and its Department of Finance and Treasury in the Pretoria High Court today on the payment of bus subsidies and hopes this lays the basis for a comprehensive resolution. SATAWU urges the relevant government departments to fully comply with the consent order handed down. The consent order staggers payment from February to April 2009 until the full amount is paid which allows our government to manage cash flow. SATAWU congratulates its members and commuters for its resolve and determination to defend public services and jobs.

For further information contact Randall Howard, Satawu General Secretary on 0825646298 or Assaria Mateboge, Satawu National Coordinator for Road Passenger  on 082 3790927

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Satawu press release on Government non compliance in the payment of bus subsidies

 

Satawu press briefing

on the funding crisis in the bus industry

28th January 2009

By withholding bus subsidies government is behaving Unreasonably, Illegally and Unconstitutionally

 

1. Introduction to the crisis

1.1        The bus industry is in a crisis, artificially created by government, and by Treasury in particular. The subsidized section of the industry, which services over 1.5 million commuters daily, is in danger of grinding to a halt due to the non payment by government of subsidies since November 2008.

1.2        If payment is not made within the next week, 26 000 bus workers are in danger of losing their jobs. 1.5 million passengers will be stranded. And suppliers of fuel and other inputs will be put into financial jeopardy. The knock-on effects are too huge to calculate – financially, socially and politically.  

1.3        If government does not pay up the R1.2bn that is owed, the only other option is for fares to double. And this of course is no option at all! Most bus users are poor and can ill afford any fare increase, let alone a doubling. As it stands 32% of households inSouth Africa spend more than 10% of household income on public transport. 10% is the maximum target set by the Transport White Paper. 58% of workers spend over 10% of their income on public transport. 

1.4        The bus industry, through its association SABOA, has taken government to court in an attempt to force payment of the subsidies. The court hearing will be in the Johannesburg High Court on Thursday 29^th January. Government has indicated it intends to oppose. Thursday’s case is specific toGauteng, but the court will be asked to extend any order to other Provinces.

1.5        Satawu, as the biggest trade union in the bus industry, fully supports the court action of SABOA. If the court action does not produce an acceptable outcome on Thursday, or if government does not agree to settle, Satawu will be marching on both the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Transport, and will plan a day of action for all bus workers. The form of this day of action is still to be decided. Commuters will be asked to support the action.  If all else fails, Satawu will have no hesitation in calling on Cosatu to lead a national strike on the issue. This is an issue that affects not only our members, but affects all communities currently serviced by the bus industry.

2. Who uses our buses?

2.1        According to a national travel survey conducted by the Department of Transport in 2003, 21% of all commuters who use public transport travel by bus. Indications are that this figure has grown substantially since 2003, especially in the past two years, when it is estimated passenger numbers have increased by around 10% per annum.

2.2.      The recent growth in commuter numbers is good news for the industry and good news for us all. The public is beginning to shift from private car use to public transport. This is necessary in order to reduce air pollution and congestion, and to take the pressure off the cost of building and maintaining roads. Growth in the bus industry should therefore be welcomed and encouraged as being in line with official government policy of promoting public transport. Instead our government is pushing the industry over the edge!

3. Who provides the bus services?

3.1        Most bus services are owned and operated by the private sector. There remain four municipal bus services (Johannesburg, Tshwane, Durban, and Boksburg) and a handful of scaled down provincially owned bus services. 

3.2   The companies vary in size from small operators owning a handful of buses, to the biggest operator Putco which employs 4,500 people and carries 300,000 passengers.    

4. Workers and wages in the industry

4.1        There are approximately 26,000 workers employed in the private subsidized section of the bus industry. Approximately 6,000 workers are employed in non subsidized and state owned operations.

4.2        The conditions of the majority of the workers employed in the private subsidized section of the industry are governed by agreements reached in a bargaining council. The current entry wage for all workers, including bus drivers, is R2570 per month. This is therefore not a high wage industry. Indeed the industry has experienced shortages of bus drivers and artisans due to the unattractiveness of pay and conditions.

4.3        Even a short term closure of the industry could have long term recruitment consequences for the industry. The industry can ill afford this at a time when passenger demand is growing.

4.4   Wage negotiations for the industry were scheduled to begin this week. Negotiations have had to be put on hold because of the crisis.

     The bus contract and subsidy system

5.1        Currently the existing municipal and provincially owned bus services are subsidized directly from the tier of government that “owns” them.

5.2     However, private companies are contracted by provincial governments, to provide the bulk of the services. The costs of are not covered entirely by fare income. The balance of costs are paid by provincial governments to the operators on a monthly retrospective basis. There are strict rules governing the timelines for the submission of claims by the bus companies, verification of the claims by provincial governments, and repayment by provinces. The contracts do not give latitude in these timelines. All the contracts specify that the refunds must be paid within 14 days of verification of the claims.

5.3     The provincial governments in turn receive allocations from the national Department of Transport to cover the costs of the bus contracts. The NDOT’s money of course comes from Treasury as part of the NDOTs budget.

5.4     There are currently three types of contract in place between provincial governments and operators :- negotiated, interim, and tendered. All three types of contract have some flexibility to take account of variable costs, such as fluctuating fuel prices.  Tendered contracts are the least flexible, and do not take account of fluctuating passenger numbers. This is a serious problem in the context of rapid growth in passenger numbers, and is a source of overcrowding in many areas. This problem is not however immediately relevant to the current crisis. Satawu has other problems with the contracts, particularly the absence of adequate employment protections for workers. However, again these issues are not immediately relevant. These problems do however need to be addressed going forward, once the current crisis has been overcome.

5.5     The revenue from contracts for privately owned and operated subsidized bus services is about 40%-60% of the operators’ total revenue. The operating margins of bus operators are small, with profit margins of between 5% and 10% on tendered contracts and between 7% and 15% on interim contracts.

 

6. The origins of the crisis

6.1        The NDOT’s bus subsidy budget was exhausted in November 2008, resulting in the non payment to companies by the provinces since then. But this crunch did not come out of the blue.

6.2        The Department of Transport has been motivating to Treasury for an increase in the baseline allocation for bus subsidies since 2004. In 2005/06 the Department started to experience a shortfall that has now escalated to an accumulated amount of R1.2bn.

6.3        The shortfall is not a result of the Department of Transport over-running its budget, but is as a direct result of Treasury refusing to meet existing contractual obligations over a period of years. The shortfall has been exacerbated by the growth in operating costs - which is accommodated in all three types of contracts, and by a growth in passenger numbers – which is accommodated in the interim and negotiated (but not the tendered) contracts.

6.4        The bus contracts are all in line with national public transport policy. Treasury has been withholding funds because it believes that the NDOT has not started to implement the policy of Integrated Transport Planning to Treasury’s satisfaction. This is cynical and manipulative of Treasury, as it knows very well that at a policy level there has been progress but that implementation of integrated transport planning has in part been delayed because of legislative changes that were required to devolve functions to municipalities. Parliament is due to pass the National Land Transport Act today (28^th January), which will expedite progress.

6.5        Treasury has also complained that there are too many interim contracts and not enough tendered contracts. As stated above, from the point of view of worker protection, as well as sustainable service delivery, Satawu is opposed to competitive tendering in the industry. Regardless of our own views, however, both tendered and interim contracts are legal and exist within the parameters of policy, so what Treasury thinks is irrelevant to the issue of whether or not payment must be made.

6.6        THE DEMAND FOR THE MONEY THAT IS OWED TO BE PAID IS NOT A PLEA FROM US FOR A “BAIL-OUT”ALA SAA OR ESKOM. IT IS A DEMAND FOR THE RETROSPECTIVE PAYMENT OF MONEYS THATARE CONTRACTUALLY OWED.

6.7        Satawu is disgusted that Treasury is using its hold over the purse strings to push an agenda which rides rough-shod over legal obligations.

7. The consequences of the non payment since November

7.1        All indications are that if government fails to pay up the subsidies by the end of January, most affected bus companies will have to close, some of them permanently.

7.2        Some companies have already indicated that they will have difficulty in paying January wages. Some companies have already stopped selling monthly tickets to commuters, for fear of not being able to honour their obligation to provide a service. Some commuters are therefore being to forced to buy more expensive weekly tickets.

7.3        Having not been paid the subsidies owed to them since November, companies have been forced to borrow from banks and to roll over the credit owed to their suppliers. However, already the banks are beginning to put the squeeze on companies as they are starting to get nervous about whether government will ever pay up. And suppliers are also understandably beginning to loose patience.

7.4        As indicated above, profit margins are small in the industry and most companies have no fat to dip into. They have been starved of funds for three months now and cannot survive any further.

8.  Government actions are unlawful and unconstitutional

8.1    Government is behaving unlawfully in that there is no provision in any law, including the PFMA, for the withholding of funds because they are “unavailable”, as the NDOT states.

8.2     Government is acting unconstitutionally in the following respects

·         Funding of the industry is a concurrent function of national and provincial governments. Clause 41(1) makes provision for concurrency. Once a function is concurrent, national government cannot withhold funds from provincial governments to implement that function.

·         Treasury is trying to impose its will, and is in violation of clause 1(c)

·         Commuters as a class of people are being adversely affected in terms of clause 38

·         Job security is being interfered with, in violation of clauses 22 and 23

9.  Conclusion

If government does not pay up there will be

·         Misery for 26,000 bus workers and their dependants

·         Misery for 1.5 million commuters which could result in unrest and damage to property

·         Irreparable damage to the industry at a time when it is expanding and improving

·         A serious impact on suppliers

·         Political fallout and embarrassment to government, which will be seen to be unwilling to meet legal contractual obligations

 

There is clearly only one option : Treasury must pay up by now!

For further comment call

Randall Howard, General Secretary 082 5646298;

Jane Barrett, Policy Research Officer 082 8278561

Assaria Mataboge, national bus sector co-ordinator 082 23790927

Satawu head office ph 011 3336127

 

___________________________________________________________________________

 

SATAWU Media Release, 18 December 2008

 

 

Withdrawal of SA Roadlink’s permits by KZN MEC

 

 

The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) welcomes the decision by the MEC Bheki Cele to withdraw the permits of SA Roadlink with regard to the spate of accidents the company have been involved in recently which resulted in a number of deaths and serious injuries of passengers.

 

SATAWU wishes to applaud the decisive steps taken by MEC Cele against the company, as this is the kind of action that is long overdue in disciplining private bus operators who contribute to the loss of life of passengers. This we regard as a real demonstration of the campaign we have called for historically that "Safety before Profits". We are concerned about the company conducting the investigation in a case that has generated such public interests in the country.

 

SATAWU calls on the MEC to ensure that his department must be fully involved in the investigation to ensure that the actual causes of the accident are exposed with a view to put in place measures to avoid it.

 

We are making this call in the context of our attempts to recruit the majority of workers at the company since 2005.

 

SA Roadlink is a union bashing company as they have consistently threatened employees with dismissal on joining the union. Hence SATAWU has not been able to secure the organizational majority with a view to change their exploitative conditions and effect transformation at the workplace through the Employment Equity Act. SATAWU has been informed the rest rooms for employees are extremely filthy and without blankets.

 

SATAWU is aware that one of the fundamental causes could be that drivers do not get enough rest as they operate trips as single drivers when the norm in the industry is for double drivers to be used. This kind of unsafe operational management does result in driver fatigue and sleeping behind the wheel resulting in the tragic accidents we have witnessed without pre empting the outcome of the investigation.

 

SATAWU further calls on the Minister of Labour to publicly arrange an urgent inspection of all Roadlink busses and the conditions under which employees work in full view of the cameras to unearth all unsafe operational practices.

 

SATAWU shall resolute in becoming the sole bargaining representatives of workers at Roadlink to radically change their conditions at work and the union bashing arrogant attitude of management.

      

Please contact our National Sector Coordinator - Passenger, Assaria Mataboge @ 0823790927 for more details.

 

SATAWU Media Release, 11 December 2008

 

 

SATAWU statement on taxi industry opposition to Bus Rapid Transport

 

 

SATAWU has noted with great concern the recent developments in the taxi industry since the aborted national summit a week ago, and the violent nature of protests which took place.

 

SATAWU reaffirms its support for the Bus Rapid Transport System (BRT) as it gives concrete expression to government policy of integrated, efficient and reliable public transport. We always understood that the taxi industry was in support of the vision for an effectively regulated and integrated public transport system in which they will be an integral part given the huge percentage of our people using the taxi mode.

 

SATAWU welcomes the initiative by the Minister of Transport to meet with taxi bosses to resolve their concerns.

 

SATAWU urges the taxi industry leaders to put all their energy into the process of engagement, including ensuring proper consultation with their constituencies with a view to advance mandates and report backs to give the process credibility.

 

SATAWU calls on the taxi industry not to oppose the BRT system but rather to engage their strategic location in it in order to provide an improved system for commuters in all major cities.

 

SATAWU calls on government to continue the process of transformation to achieve effective regulation and integration of the public transport in South Africa using the leverage of 2010 and beyond. This regulation must include the employee/employer relationship to ensure quality employment, living wages and decent benefits, which remain non-existent in the industry, notwithstanding the sectoral determination which laid the platform of basic rights for taxi workers.  

 

SATAWU Media Release

10 December 2008

Appeal Case against Captain Chawla and Chief Officer Chetan: Korea

South African Transport and Allied Workers Union an affiliate of the International Transport Worker’s Federation, based in London wishes to express our grave and strongest concerns about the continuous detention of our comrades and brothers, Captain Japrit Chawla and Chief Office Syam Chetan, ex-crew of the MT Hebei Spirit. These two men have remained in Korea awaiting an appeal case and are now waiting for the decision of the Court.

These two comrades who are members of Indian affiliate of ITF were tried and found innocent of any negligence following the catastrophic oil spill from the Hebei Spirit on the 7^th December 2007. The comrades were charged and the finding in January 2008 was that they were found innocent of any negligence, a finding the ITF and its affiliates supports. These two comrades however still remained in Korea awaiting an appeal case and now are waiting for the decision of the Court due for the 10^th December 2008.

The Hebei Spirit oil spill occurred when a barge struck the enchored vessel, as the result it caused major environmental and economic disaster off the coast of the Country. The spill oil was a traumatic event in Korea, which however was not their own making and beyond their control. The tanker was already safe at the anchor when a runaway barge holed the vessel. SATAWU understands that this matter remains a desperately serious matter for the thousands of people working in the area of spill who have needed compensation and help.  However, we strongly believe that the two seafarers have been unfairly caught up in an effort to address the crisis caused by the incident. Further, SATAWU supports bringing justice to wrongdoers, but cannot support the continuity of criminating the seafarers

We therefore call upon the upcoming decision for the appeal case, through South Korea judiciary be considerate to the previous courts decision when deciding a judgement in this matter. Further such processes must provide an opportunity for the positive consideration and release Captain Chawla and Chief Officer Chetan. We call upon the relevant authorities in Korea to appeal to the judges to consider all the evidence, from international experts as well as information from the Korean maritime safety committee on making their decision in this case.  Finding others to be responsible, especially on a convenient foreign ship’s officers is inexcusable.

We call upon the acquittal of these men and believe such act will send a very positive message to the world’seafares that Koreas’ justice system continues to be both fair and independent.

SATAWU and other ITF affiliates are determined to campaign against the criminalisation of seafarers in all corners of the world, and Caption Chawla and Chief Officer Chetan not being excempted in that regard. We commit to do whatever it takes to make sure that these two seafarers will be exonerated from this unjust and unfair treatment and be released by Korea. This is the call we also forwarded to the Korea representatives in South Africa and believe they will join us in this just cause.

Issued by: South African Transport and Allied Workers Union:

For more details contact the Deputy General Secretary of SATAWU, Nelson Lamityi at SATAWU Head Office :- Telephone No: 011 333 6127 or Cell Non : 079 495 5483

 

SATAWU Media Release 28 November 2008

 

 

Strike to continue at SAA

 

 

SATAWU can confirm that South African Airways have lost their urgent application to interdict in the Labour Court this afternoon.

 

The planned strike action can go ahead unhindered with a view to stop the sale of the call centre, stop the use of labour brokers and the payment of retention premiums to employees.

 

The shopsteward and leadership will decide the exact commencement of the strike to induce the company to accede to our demands. SATAWU's doors remain open to settle the dispute through urgent negotiations to avert a strike.

 

SATAWU can confirm that it accepted an offer made yesterday by the Human Resources General Manager Babalazi Balungu to meet today at our head office. However on following up this morning no response could be solicited from him.

 

We call on management to stop its orchestrated attack against SATAWU and its shopstewards including its arrogance and apply their minds to the real issues.

 

SATAWU

 

Randall Howard, General Secretary, 082 564 6298, 011 333 6127, Randall@satawu.org.za

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SATAWU Media Release, 28 November 2008

 

 

Wage deadlock, possible strike

 

 

SATAWU press release on the wage deadlock reached in the national road freight industry and may lead to a national strike.

 

Satawu and three other unions who are party National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry (NBCRFI) have declared a dispute over wage and conditions of employment on the 28/10/2008.

 

The dispute among others covers long distance drivers, checkers, loaders, general workers, vehicle guards, store men and clerks totaling 60 000 workers nationally.

 

Parties have met on the 27/11/2008 in the first dispute meeting which did not result in a resolution to the issues in dispute. We will now proceed to a second compulsory dispute meeting in terms of the Protocol Agreement. Once these meetings have taken place and still no agreement is reached the unions may issue a 48 hour notice with the aim to engage in an industrial action, which is imminent should the intransigence of the employers’ continue.

 

The negotiations commenced in August 2008 and is yet to yield any positive results for workers in the industry.  

 

The main issues in dispute are as follows:

 

 

The above summary indicates all the important monetary demands which workers feel very strongly about as the wages remains low and employers’ continue to rely on incentive schemes to remunerate long hours.

 

The long hours drivers spend on the road results in fatigue, illness and engaging prostitution which undermines normal family life.  

 

The two year agreement we reached in 2007 resulted in our members facing huge losses in their take home pay. The 8% increase they received was eaten by the rate of inflation when it sky rocketed to 13.6% between August and September 2008.

 

This industry in one of those that are on the bottom of the list with regard to the worst paid employees who depend on overtime and incentive schemes to subsidies their take home pay in order to survive on a daily basis.

 

This means long hours of work for a driver to make ends meet. It means a lot of time away from your family for weeks in order to compensate for the low salary at the end of the week.

 

These are conditions which invites divorce situations and fatigue resulting in fatal accidents including jack knifing of trucks on our national roads which costs the taxpayers.

 

The industry is known as a breeding ground for the spread of HIV/AIDS and the conditions under which our driver members are working particularly the long working hours contribute to it notwithstanding the effective industry program which has  educated, created awareness and changed behavior to some extent at truck stops clinics.

 

SATAWU and its members have declared not to accept anything less than a double digit increase in this round.

 

We also call our own government to commence a process of effective regulation of the road freight industry as self regulation in this industry has failed as employers will always cut corners to make more profits.

 

We welcome the consultative process initiated by the National Department of Transport (NDOT) into the issue of working hours and believe that it must result in tacit regulation of working time to counter the exploitation by unscrupulous employers.

 

The continued use of the load system, kilo meter system, casualisation, labour broking and sub contracting de facto shifts the responsibility of the employer to employee who ends up without retirement benefits to show for years of long loyal service.

 

All our provinces are currently mobilizing our members through out the country preparing for a show down in the coming months should the facilitation process currently taking place not produce any meaningful results.

 

SATAWU remains resolute in the struggle to qualitatively improve the lives of our members and workers in general through the ongoing campaign for a living wage, decent and permanent jobs in the context of ever increasing income inequalities and deepening poverty worsened by the global down turn which has begun to affect our economy and industry directly.

 

We therefore make an earnest call on the Road Freight Employer Association to come to their senses and negotiate in a manner that is intended to qualitatively transform the industry and fundamentally to improve the conditions of our members failing which we shall use industrial power to induce the paradigm shift required.   

 

For more information contact either TabudiAbner Ramakgolo, National Sector Coordinator @ 072 284 4049 or June Dube, 1^st Deputy President @ 082 55 22 380.

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SATAWU Media Release, 28 November 2008

  

SATAWU appreciates the timeous release of SAA cabin crew in Mumbai

 

SATAWU was extremely concerned about the safety of the South African Airways cabin crew staff, which included four of its members caught in the cross fire of a terrorist attack in Mumbai.

 

SATAWU is very pleased about the release of the affected cabin crew staff and their safe return to South Africa.

 

We wish to thank the South African and the Indian authorities respectively for their speedy and decisive intervention in securing the release of the staff in what is now a very volatile situation.

 

In view of the unfolding situation in which many innocent tourists have died and some still being held hostage their release is highly appreciated.

 

We further hope that as many lives as possible can be spared as such forms of terrorism must be condemned in the strongest terms.  

 

E-mail Address: Randall@satawu.org.za  

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SATAWU Press Release, 17 November 2008

 

 

Eight years and Zola Zembe

 

 

SATAWU press release on the occasion of celebrating the life and times of its Honorary President, and SATAWU 's 8th anniversary

 

 

SATAWU press release on the occasion of celebrating the life and times of its Honorary President, Cde Archibald “ZZ” Sibeko and the anniversary of SATAWU under the theme: Eight years of unity and struggle!

 

SATAWU, COSATU’s 8th largest affiliate, and its Central Executive, will be hosting a gala dinner at Emperor’s Palace in Boksburg on 17 November 2008 starting at 8pm.

 

The gala dinner is the culmination of the activities held to celebrate our 8th anniversary and the 80th birthday of our Honorary President, Cde ZZ.  The 8th anniversary of SATAWU is particularly special as we are celebrating it in conjunction with the life of a remarkable comrade of our movement.

 

The occasion is very historic as we recognise the contribution and life of a stalwart of our movement, a freedom fighter, a trade unionist and a democrat who has participated in our struggle in a selfless and committed manner to advance the cause of democracy, workers and the poor. The above-mentioned values he continues to live by are firmly entrenched in the principles and actions of our union. His great belief in the unity of workers in all three industries we represent is an objective SATAWU will continue to pursue.

 

We have been celebrating both milestones since our CEC in March 2008 and decided that it should climax in this gala dinner in honour of Cde Archie.

 

We have used these milestones as an opportunity to both celebrate and reflect on our strengths and weaknesses, reposition where necessary and plotting a clear strategic direction to build the union to ensure that we remain on course.

 

The first reflection is the objective of growing our membership base through recruitment and becoming a more powerful and influential trade union in all relevant spheres remains central to our future and our country. 

 

The second is that we will strive to set ourselves apart from our rivals by providing quality services to our members who demand of us to deliver concrete outcomes that fundamentally change the lives of our members at work and in the community.

 

The third reflection remains the vision of building a society based on a value system of solidarity, social justice, economic equality and gender equality in which dignity for the working class is achieved in real terms given the high levels of poverty and income equality.

 

The fourth reflection is to  consolidate gains made but also redouble our efforts to unite, grow and build SATAWU as we push ahead to mobilise for a decisive ANC electoral victory in 2009, our 10th anniversary in 2010 and our to 3rd National Congress in 2011. To this end the advent of the Shikota breakaway group must serve to galvanise our movement so that we mobilise against them decisively so that people on the ground see them for who they really are – “opportunistic power- and money-mongers who did not accept a democratic outcome and as a result lost their leverage (power) to amass wealth using the state and lost the ANC as a cash cow”!

 

The fifth reflection is our membership and shop stewards on the ground, out there in the workplaces, being the first line of defence at the industrial base. In this regard the solidarity action taken by our Durban dockers in April 2008 in support of the workers and people of Zimbabwe that resulted in a global trade union and political campaign and the eventual return of the Chinese vessel with its lethal weapons is hallmark of the revolutionary and transformative trade unionism SATAWU advances.

 

SATAWU expresses its sincere gratitude to its loyal and disciplined members without whom none of the above achievements would have been possible. 

 

SATAWU wishes to sincerely thank all its staff for their ongoing passion and commitment in providing quality services to members as they deserve no less!

 

SATAWU also thanks all the organisations, COSATU and its affiliates, former SATAWU leaders, state owned enterprises, private companies, its partners and sponsors for supporting the event and celebrations.

 

The first part of the programme will include addresses by the SATAWU president Ezrom Mabyana, mayor of the host city Ekhuruleni Ntombi Mekgwe, COSATU General Secretary, the SACP and ANC leaders who will present salutations in honour of Cde ZZ.

 

The second part of the programme will include speakers who will reflect on various aspects of cde ZZ’s life ranging from family, trade union, MK and exile among others.

 

The event will also see the launch of the Archibald Sibeko Transport Foundation and the signing of a pledge as a fitting tribute given his lifelong passion for safe, affordable and safe public transport for the poor and the role of transport underpinning of economic development. 

 

The expected guests among others will include the minister of transport Jeff Radebe, Transnet Chief Executive Maria Ramos, Metrorail CEO Lucky Montana, South African Airways Chief Executive Officer Khaya Ngqula, Momentum Head of Industry Gansen Govender, National Union Of Mineworkers General Secretary Frans Baleni, Old Mutual Group Schemes Marshall Rapiya, and Armgold, Transmed, Thebemed, Booysens Hotel, Transmed, Great North Transport, Masakhane Security and Resolution Health.

 

Entertainment will be provided by Ringo and DJ Naked.

 

Released by the SATAWU General Secretary Randall Howard, 082 564 6298