NUMSA reaches deadlocked with Gautrain over wage demands

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The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) says it has registered a dispute with the CCMA against the Bombela Operating Company (BOC), which operates the Gautrain.

NUMSA which is the majority union and the sole negotiating union at the Gautrain said they deadlocked with the bosses at commuter rail entity over its wage demands.

“Wage talks began on April 17 and we have had two rounds of talks. Our last meeting was on June 11 which is when we deadlocked with the employer,” union’s general secretary Irvin Jim explained.

According to Jim, the union’s core demands are 13% increase across the board, they want Gautrain to contribute 60% and employees to contribute 40% on medical aid and a R2000 housing allowance per employee.

“The BOC was initially a five-day operation and then it changed to a six-day operation without compensating workers for the extra work.

“Workers have not been remunerated for these additional hours and we are demanding that they must be compensated for this. And going forward, they must be paid the overtime rate for the sixth day.

Gautrain’s workers denied bonus

“We demand a guaranteed bonus because the bosses at BOC gave themselves and office workers R22 000 each as a bonus. But blue collar workers are denied a guaranteed bonus.

“They have an incentive bonus which requires that they must first meet certain laid down qualifying criteria, in order to be paid. This is unfair and we demand equal treatment for all workers.”

The SG stated that they demand full time shop stewards so that they can represent workers in disciplinary enquiries, grievances, over time BOC has become hostile to the union and this led to BOC management unilaterally withdrawing a recognition agreement that we had with the company.

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Jim also highlighted that they are now waiting for a date for conciliation with the CCMA.

He added; “We are calling on the bosses at BOC to come back to the table with a proposal that can prevent a strike at Gautrain.”