UTATU United Transport and Allied Trade Union

2010-02-10

UTATU has declared a dispute with regards to the fact that the company is unfair in its actions by only paying a medical allowance to employees belonging to Transmed Medical Aid.

Since the dispute has been declared, numerous meetings took place between Transnet, their legal representatives and UTATU with our legal representatives.

Unfortunately no agreement could be reached and the Parties agreed to go to Private Arbitration on this matter. A date was agreed to in October 2009, however due to unforeseen circumstances the date was postponed until January 2010. Unfortunately the Parties could only reach consensus to set down the matter for Arbitration on the 8th to 10th of March 2010.

The Parties have also agreed that the Arbitrator will be a Senior Advocate, Mark Antrobus.

Members will be informed of any further developments in this matter.

UTATU Greetings, 
                     
Mr SA Harris
GENERAL SECRETARY  
 
                          

                                                                                                                                 2010-01-08
UTATU, Transnet’s biggest trade union, has lauded Transnet for concluding a R2, 4 billion deal for the construction of 100 new diesel locomotives with GE South African Technologies (GESAT) that ‘puts the South African economy and its workers first.’ 

The deal signed by Transnet gives its manufacturing arm – Transnet Rail Engineering (TRE) – a major role in the implementation of the contract. Using a combination of locally manufactured components and kits supplied by GESAT, Transnet Rail Engineering will construct 90 of the 100 locomotives on order.

“This contract is a positive start to 2010 and a giant stride towards Transnet re-capturing the faith and co-operation of its workers,” says UTATU’S General Secretary, Chris de Vos. “Little that emerged from Transnet during 2009 – a year fraught with in-fighting, overtones of corruption and lacklustre attention to employee needs – could give its workers faith in the people managing their fortunes,” says De Vos.

“But this deal is different. It is a clean one that puts the South African economy and its workers first.
“UTATU compliments Minister Hogan and acting Transnet Group CEO, Chris Wells, on their roles in the achievement. We hope that this economy-and-worker-benefiting move is just the first step in a new approach to business. SA’s workers expect nothing less from a State-owned enterprise.

“Transnet and GESAT will have no reason to regret the faith they have shown in TRE,” says De Vos. “Its management and workers are up to the challenge and will – UTATU predicts – produce results that will attract further deals of a similar nature.
“In addition to the immediate benefits for the SA economy, the contract will also advance local manufacturing skills,” De Vos adds. “This is a healthy development that will benefit the country.” 

For more information please contact 

THE GENERAL SECRETARIES Messrs: 

Chris de Vos 082 882 5920 and Steve Harris 082 566 5516