Satawu confirms Transnet strike is over

[John Ashworth]

Satawu confirms Transnet strike is over

May 27 2010 15:59 | News 24


Johannesburg - The Transnet strike ended on Thursday with SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) members accepting a new offer, deputy president Robert Mashego said.

"We have accepted... We have signed," said Mashego.

"We are not happy about the offer per se, but we think we can live with it," he said.

Members would begin returning to work on Friday and everybody was expected to be back in their posts by Monday latest.

As eight provinces had accepted the new offer on Thursday, Satawu's leadership decided to accept and sign to end the 17-day no work no pay strike at the freight logistics parastatal.

Mashego said the across the board offer of an 11% salary increase stood, but the company had agreed to an additional 1% once-off payment on the total salary package per annum.

If the matter had not been settled, a solidarity strike had been expected in other Satawu sectors.

Satawu workers went on strike at Transnet on May 10, demanding a 15% wage increase. Transnet countered with 11%.

Satawu's fellow union, the United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) embarked on the strike with Satawu for a few days before deciding at the end of last week to accept the 11% offer.

Business Unity SA estimated that the strike had cost the economy about R7bn.

A Transnet spokesperson was not immediately available to confirm the settlement and whether the once-off payment also applied to Utatu members.

- Sapa