The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), the country’s dispute resolution body, has stepped in to try to resolve Numsa’s indefinite wage strike at Gautrain.
This after disgruntled members of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) downed tools on Monday and embarked on a strike in support of their demands for above-inflation wage increases.
However, Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola on Tuesday said the union — the country’s largest with more than 450,000 members — had since revised its wage demand from 13% to 9% in an effort to try to reach agreement with the company. The inflation rate in April and May was 5.2%.
“We are at 9%. We have shifted our position. And BOC [Bombela Operating Company] is still at 5.6% and has not shifted at all. We have revised in an attempt to ensure we find one another,” Hlubi-Majola said.
BOC is one of the subcontractors appointed by BCC to operate the rail component of the Gautrain system.
“CCMA has asked us to participate in Section 150 mediation to try and resolve the strike. Section 150 of the Labour Relations Act gives CCMA power to call parties to participate in mediation if it is in the public interest. Numsa has agreed to participate,” she said.
“Right now we are meeting with Gautrain Management Authority (GMA), which has indicated that it would like to play a role to bridge the divide between us and BOC. (They are not going to replace CCMA process).”
Gautrain spokesperson Kesagee Nayager said Gautrain services were unaffected by the BOC strike. “Since the strike commenced [on Monday], Gautrain services have been operating according to the normal schedule,” Nayager said.
“The strike affects the staff of [BOC], which is one of the subcontractors appointed by [BCC] to operate the rail component of the Gautrain system. The maintenance and the Gautrain bus operations are subcontracted to other entities that are not affected by the strike at BOC.’’’
Nayager said BOC confirmed that “all their staff that are currently operating the rail service during the strike are fully compliant with safety regulations”.
A company official said the Gautrain had a staff complement of more than 500 employees, with 271 belonging to Numsa.
“But of the 271, only 127 voted in favour of the strike, so the strike turnout has been quite low,” the official said, adding that the CCMA had offered to intervene in the industrial action for parties to find common ground.
“The CCMA initiated the intervention process on Monday, so we don’t know how long it’s going to go for.”
The Gautrain plays a pivotal role in the economy of Gauteng, connecting SA’s economic and financial hub of Johannesburg to the capital city, Tshwane, which is home to major manufacturing plants such as Ford, BMW and Nissan. It transports about 40,000 passengers a day. It also connects both cities to OR Tambo International Airport, one of Africa’s busiest and largest airport.
However, unions have criticised the Gautrain project, which cost more than R30bn, for failing to address the needs of the province’s townships.
Numsa is also demanding that BOC cover 60% of employees’ medical aid costs and increase the housing allowance to R2,000 a month.
In July 2023, Numsa signed a one-year wage deal for an 8% increase, which expired in June.
Update: July 9 2024
This article has been updated with new information throughout
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