[EN-SEA] South Africa : Union End Transnet Strike

Almost a week after UTATU terminated the strike at Transnet, SATAWU signed a settlement agreement yesterday afternoon.

In terms of the agreement, all workers will receive an additional one-off payment in June calculated as 1% of annual salary.

While the baseline wage will not change, the deal is equivalent of the bottom line 12% that the union put forward as a settlement proposal last Sunday.

More than 65% of Transnet's employees reported for work on Tuesday, with attendance rates as high as 100% in some operational areas.

Prior to signing the agreement, SATAWU had called for support from the International Transport Workers' Federation, a worldwide federation of 751 transport trade unions representing more than 4.6 million transport workers in 154 countries.

Secondary strike notices were issued to port related companies: Richards Bay Coal Terminal, Safmarine, AP Moller Maersk, Bidfreight Port Operations, Grindrod, Hazard Marine, Hermes Ship Chandlers, National Ship Chandlers, South African & Container Depots.

Notices were also issued on the former Transnet company Arrivia.kom as well as motor ferry companies Motorvia and Auto Carriers, with further strike notices planned for the Road Freight Association and aviation companies including SAA.

Transnet spokesman John Dludlu said that the violence and vandalism that started on day one of the strike (May 10th) was well managed by company security and the SA Police Service.

To date, more than thirty arrests have been made, including a striker arrested with a petrol bomb

Source : EFT, 28.05.10.