[EN-SEA] South Africa's National Transport Strike Enters Third Week

SOUTH AFRICA's transport strike entered its third week after the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) rejected the state-run logistics giant Transnet's latest offer, an 11 per cent cross-the-board wage increase.
The second union involved in the Transnet strike, the United Transport and Allied Trade Union (UTATU), has agreed to the 11 per cent pay rise, but SATAWU was holding out for 13 per cent.

The employer, Transnet, would not allow the yielding UTATU members back to work until SATAWU workers agreed to the deal.

Instead, SATAWU called on the national labour federation, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), to commence secondary picketing of certain companies and seek support from the International Transport Workers Federation, the London-based United Nations delegate group for transport labour at the UN agencies, ILO, IMO and ICAO.

Transnet human resources executive Pradeep Maharaj warned that sympathy strikes could become violent, reported South Africa's Business Day.

In response to the plea of the still striking union, COSATU general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi acknowledged that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) government had raised concerns about the strike.

"The ANC raised concerns that the strike might undermine the World Cup," said Mr Vavi, but said the labour federation pressed the ANC government to demand that Transnet management re-examine its "lucrative salary and bonuses for managers" to raise the money needed to provide the pay rise acceptable to the union.

The nationwide Transnet strike has cost the economy billions, with exports battered by the lack of activity in the shipping industry, said the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The chamber said it was "distressing" that the strike threatened to disrupt the country's fuel supply and rail movement of key commodities such as iron ore and coal.

Fresh produce suppliers said foreign buyers have had to buy from countries other than South Africa. Miners Xstrata Samancor, Exxaro Resources and Ruukki said they could not guarantee delivery of ferrochrome or coal.

Source : HKSG, 25.05.10.