UTATU United Transport and Allied Trade Union

The United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) – Transnet’s largest trade union - has welcomed the Johannesburg High Court’s decision to dismiss Siyabonga Gama’s appeal to have his suspension lifted.

‘Hopefully, this will end the external grandstanding and interference in what is – and always should have been – an internal matter,’ says Utatu general secretary, Chris de Vos.

‘Like any other employee facing disciplinary charges, Mr Gama can now have this matter thoroughly investigated and then  a fair disciplinary hearing, which he is entitled to, while the rest of us get on with the job of running a rail system.

‘We support Mr Gama’s right to a fair hearing. We also hope that Transnet can back up its allegations with clear-cut evidence, and that it will learn from its clumsy handling of its succession issue. In the meantime the Minister must appoint a permanent Chairperson of the Board and a group CEO.There is a lot to be done and Transnet cannot face all the battles without leadership”

‘Right now there are few people in South Africa who believe that Transnet is a stable, well-managed organisation.’

ENDS

Released by Chris de Vos
General Secretary
Utatu
0828825920

Note to editors:

As at 1 August, 2009, the Transnet group’s total staff complement was
48 000.
Union membership broke down as follows:
Utatu members    22 377 (46%)
Satawu members 18 720 (39%)
Un-unionised         7 421 (15,4%)
In the period 1 January 2009 to 1 August 2009, Transnet’s total numbers shrunk from 55 313 to 48 000 (2 000 employees were transferred to Prasa).
During the same period, Utatu’s Transnet membership rose from 41,75%  to 45, 73% 
Satawu is basically a single race union (black members).
Utatu has about a 50/50 black/white split representing most skills types, more particularly train drivers, artisans and their allied workers.
Utatu’s rapid growth is being fuelled by the large number of black members joining it.