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[File photo] A worker counts money
Labour unions representing the majority of Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) workers are threatening strike action over a wage dispute. This after the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) and The United National Transport Union (Untu) declared a dispute of mutual interest with the CCMA accusing the employer of negotiating in bad faith.
The workers have tabled a consolidation of wage demands including a 15% across-the-board salary increase for 2025/26.
The CCMA will on the 10th of this month sit for a conciliation process between passenger rail agency and its labour unions.
Satawu’s Amanda Tshemese says the 2024 wage agreement of 5% lapsed last month.
“We are demanding a 15% salary increase across the board for a period of a year. We are also demanding that the employer should contribute 70% towards the medical aid as well as housing allowance. You would recall that these demands are demands that were not met by the employer in our previous agreement that came to an end in March and they are as important as wage increases. So, this year, the employer must implement them. Sadly, the management continues to undermine labour and workers. We declared a dispute of mutual interest,” says Tshemese.
The unions say the workers continue to support measures to return Prasa to profitability. They are accusing the management of disregarding these efforts and their plight.
Untu’s Atenkosi Plaatjie says the employer is undermining bargaining processes and as a result the workers are ready to down tools.
“What l’m certain of is that Prasa employees, especially Untu members, are ready to take to the streets because Prasa does not want to negotiate around the table and also they also take to account the fact that they’ve only been receiving 5% for the last few years and also they’ve been so many payment plans … so, we are ready to go to the streets if Prasa does not want to sit around the table to negotiate with labor. Then we’re ready to take the streets and we’re ready to shut down and you as you said, this will impact the Prasa operations it will mean that trains will not be available for commuters.”
The unions say they are hoping for a positive outcome from a meeting with the Prasa CEO ahead of the CCMA sitting. The workers have also pinned their hopes on the CCMA meeting on the 10th of this month aimed to avert a strike action that would be disastrous for commuters that depend on the train and the entity.
However, failure by the parties to find each other could allow the CCMA to issue a certificate of non-resolution paving way for a strike action.
Labour unions Satawu and Untu threaten strike action at Prasa over wage dispute:
