For Immediate Release
17th April 2023
SATAWU MEETS TRANSNET MANAGEMENT OVER 4-SHIFT PATTERN
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) leadership led by its President Comrade Ntuthuzelo Mhlubulwana and the General Secretary of the union Cde Jack Mzibuko, today the 17th of April 2023, met with the Management of Transnet Port Terminals at the Bargaining Council in Parktown, the opening remarks of the meeting were made, and the union realised at that point that it was not needed to this meeting.
The meeting was basically about the 4-shift Pattern Agreement that was signed by UNTU and the management. The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union wishes to emphasize and to clarify that it has not signed the 4-shift Pattern, it is for that reason that the union withdrew from participating in this meeting. The union is refusing to be dragged and be part of ‘implementations’ of this agreement between the two parties.
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union takes mandate from its members and workers, we therefore requested to be excused and be given more time to consult with our members and workers in the entity throughout the country. The 4-shift Pattern is a very sensitive and serious matter, and the union must apply its mind to this matter, and give its members and workers enough time.
The union will hold general meetings in the next coming weeks at all Port Terminals throughout the country. The union is also encouraging its shop stewards to organise and to mobilise all the members to participate in these general meetings and ensuring that their voices are heard and submit their inputs.
The union maintains that it will only participate and discuss the 4-shift pattern once it has consulted and held all its general meetings. The union made it clear that it would not seat and engage on something that is not binding to the union, the agreement is between UNTU, and the management of Transnet and it has nothing to do with us.
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union will make its submission to the management and discuss the 4-shift pattern further, hopefully with positive results from the workers. The union is committed to work with the entity, however we have a responsibility to fight and to protect our members, especially the poor and working class.
Issued by SATAWU