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Gautrain Strike Looms as Wage Talks Reach Deadlock Numsa Warns
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has issued a warning indicating that its members employed by the Gautrain service may initiate a strike due to an impasse in wage negotiations with the operating company, Bombela Operating Company.
The company’s alleged intention to eliminate housing allowances for Numsa members is at the heart of the disagreement as reported by Jacarandafm. In response, Gautrain spokesperson Kesagee Nayager refuted the claims, stating that the company had proposed an increase in housing allowances, contrary to Numsa’s allegations. Nayager further revealed that Numsa had abruptly left the negotiation process.
Regrettably, the wage negotiations between Bombela Operating Company and Numsa reached a stalemate, prompting the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA) to issue a certificate of non-resolution, indicating the failure to find a mutually acceptable resolution.
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Nayager highlighted that Numsa and the company had initially agreed to three negotiation sessions, but Numsa abandoned the talks after the second session. This sudden departure further complicated the discussions.
In addition to the housing allowance issue, another point of contention revolves around cancelling free train ride cards for a small fraction of Numsa-affiliated employees. Nayager clarified that this demand affects less than ten employees stationed at the depot. She emphasised that operational employees, who perform their duties at stations and on trains, are unaffected by this specific issue. Nayager also expressed the company’s willingness to continue engaging with Numsa to achieve a mutually agreeable resolution.
The current deadlock in wage negotiations raises concerns about the potential disruption of Gautrain services as Numsa contemplates the possibility of its members resorting to strike action. Both Numsa and the Bombela Operating Company now face the challenge of finding common ground and resolving their differences to avoid potential disruptions to the Gautrain system.
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Photo: Twitter / @Jacaranda FM
