NUMSA is demanding a 9% wage increase across the board and 60% coverage of medical subsidies. File photo
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has announced an indefinite strike from Monday against management of Gautrain operator Mombela Operating Company (BOC), which could affect commuters.
Numsa said it had been unable to reach an agreement with the operator over wages.
NUMSA national spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi Majola, said: Mail & Guardian The workers have increased their demand for an across-the-board wage increase from 13% to 9%, but still want 60% of medical costs to be covered by BOC and the remaining 40% to be paid by employees, as well as a housing allowance of R2 000 per employee per month.
After two rounds of talks that began on April 17, the last meeting on June 11 ended in a deadlock.
“The management has refused to meet our demands, which has led the workers to resort to strike action. It is an indefinite strike until our demands are met,” Hlubi Majola said.
He said Numsa represents 286 of Gautrain's 300 employees, including drivers, customer service representatives and mechanics. Union members had been picketing since Monday morning.
Gautrain spokesperson Kesagi Nayagar said there was no impact on services due to the Numsa strike and contingency plans meant trains and buses were running as normal.
Numsa signed a one-year wage agreement with Gautrain management in July 2023, which expired last month, which included an eight per cent wage increase across the board, a 10 per cent increase in housing allowance, a five per cent increase in transport allowance, a R500 increase in performance bonus, a R35 per hour night shift allowance and the continuation of Gautrain staff cards.
Numsa is also calling for fair compensation for unpaid overtime.
According to a Numsa statement, BOC was initially scheduled to operate for five days but this was later changed to six days without compensating workers for the extra work.
“Workers have not been paid for these additional hours and we are demanding compensation for this, and from now on workers must be paid overtime for the sixth day.”
Numsa is also demanding bonuses for blue-collar workers and the right to union representation.
Hlubi Majola said Gautrain management and others had rewarded themselves with a R22 000 bonus but did not give it to other employees.
“So what our members are asking is why in Gautrain some people are guaranteed a bonus regardless of performance while others have to perform before they can receive a bonus. What we are asking for is equality for all workers.”
“Either everyone gets a guaranteed bonus or everyone gets a performance bonus. It shouldn't be a situation where some people get it and others don't,” she said.
Gautrain celebrated its 14th anniversary in June. Its network includes 10 stations, 96 wagons, 125 motorcoaches and 29 medium-duty buses connecting Johannesburg, Pretoria, Ekurhuleni and OR Tambo International Airport.
The concession agreement between the Gauteng government and BOC expires in 2026. The Gautrain Authority has opened a tender to find the next concessionaire, according to a statement on its website.
NUMSA apologised to its 40,000 daily users but said the union was “forced to take this drastic action”.
