Gauteng’s Roads and Transport MEC Ismail Vadi has been briefed by parties affected by the Gautrain wage strike, and believes an agreement is looming.
Gauteng MEC for Transport, Ismail Vadi, says he is confident that Gautrain strike will end soon.
The strike entered its third week on Monday, 13 August 2018, just a day after the Federation of Unions of South Africa met with the United National Transport Union (UNTU) and the Bombela Operating Company, in a bid to break the wage impasse.
UNTU will be meeting with its members on Monday to discuss the proposed wage offer.
“He [Vadi] is cautiously optimistic that the Gautrain strike will end soon. He said he has been briefed by the parties on extensive negotiations held between the Bombela Operating Company and the United National Transport Union over the weekend”, Vadi’s office said in a statement.
“Gautrain striking workers will be consulted on Monday on the proposed agreement and, should a mandate be given by the employees, the situation may be normalized soon thereafter”, the statement further reads.
The wage standoff has posed an inconvenience to some Gautrain commuters, as train services have been limited.
UNTU is not budging from its demand of a ten percent increase for its members as well as R20,000 in bonuses. Gautrain management is however, only offering an 8.6 percent increase. The Commission Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) stepped in after a wage between UNTU and the Bombela Operating Company, which operates the Gautrain, failed to reach an agreement last week.
Thabo Baloyi
t.baloyi@politicalanalysis.co.za
