The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has warned that it could go on strike as wage negotiations with Gautrain management stall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking to ENCA<\/a>, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, a spokesperson for the union, said that the two parties have agreed on an 8% wage increase; however, negotiations on other demands have deadlocked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She said that Gautrain management is set to abolish staff cards. These cards are used to allow workers to use the train to and from work free of charge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Management at the rail company is said to be seeking to eliminate this privilege. Numsa said that this does not make sense. According to Hlubi-Majola, the move forms part of the rail company’s cost-cutting measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “We find it completely unreasonable; transportation is not cheap and reliable. And given the work our workers do, it is bizarre management would come up with these proposals,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “It has become a sticking point; there is absolutely no way to sign this agreement…the benefits to using the card have been in place since 2013; what is exacerbating the situation is that they also want to abolish a housing allowance, enabling workers to gain access to home loans,” Hlubi-Majola said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the 28th of June, Numsa said that it would be balloting its members around a strike, and the group has requested a meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n NUMSA is the largest union in Gautrain, and if workers were to go on strike, the company’s operational capacity would take a massive blow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n