NUMSA has started circulating visuals from its protest action against the Gautrain, as the union is currently calling for a wage increase for its members.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) revealed on Twitter on Monday, 5 October 2020, that it has gone ahead with the indefinite strike action against the Gautrain. This is as a result of the two parties failing to reach an agreement on a wage increase for employees. The biggest point of contention that was highlighted by NUMSA is the Gautrain refusing to give its lowest paid workers an eight percent salary increase, as they currently earn R8 500, according to NUMSA.
Ahead of the protest action, NUMSA’s statement on Sunday, 4 October 2020, claimed, “Bombela Operating Company [needs to] engage us meaningfully on our demands. The BOC refuses to negotiate wages with us, they are simply imposing a four percent wage increase on us.”
The statement went on to allege that BOC has been attempting to intimidate NUMSA members. NUMSA ended the statement by asserting that despite having an opportunity to mediate, the Gautrain has opted to turn a blind to the situation.
See the post below.
We demand an 8 percent increase to cushion the lowest paid worker earning R8500 per month. #GautrainStrike pic.twitter.com/2fgyxYJIcd
— NUMSA (@Numsa_Media) October 5, 2020
Sabelo Makhubo
s.makhubo@politicalanalysis.co.za
