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2010 is the year when, faced with an accumulation of pay-related problems, labour stood together to demonstrate its power.
Transnet’s workers have taught those responsible for parastatal employee relations that to cheat Transnet’s workers is to cheat the country.
The next times Transnet (and the responsible cabinet ministers) play fast and loose with Transnet’s workers, they will come under behind-the-scenes pressure from those who have to pay the bill - the country’s mining, manufacturing and commercial industries – not to mention its commuters.
Utatu members achieved by far the best result from the strike.
Why?
Because, like the seasoned campaigners they are, they were able to correctly read the signs and limit their losses.
Utatu scored in other ways, too:
• The union’s responsible and disciplined approach greatly enhanced its public image.
• The widespread media coverage clearly identified Utatu as Transnet’s major trade union.
• Having reached parliament, UTATU’S criticisms of the presidential and cabinet lapses that might have averted the strike will serve as a wake-up call to those in power to heed the worker voice in future.
There were elements of justice in the one-off one per cent payout.
To those who knew when to stop striking (and not to damage the equipment of the company that feeds them), the money came as a bonus. For those who stayed longer, all it has done is limit their losses.
Some workers put it another way: ‘After having ridden on the back of UTATU’S superior negotiating skills for so many years, it was nice to see Satawu at last giving us something back.’
“UTATU’S victory is our members’ victory. We salute them for their solidarity, good sense and the sacrifices they were prepared to make to help their union achieve its goals,” say Utatu general secretaries, Chris de Vos and Steve Harris.
“We did not achieve everything we wanted in one hit – one rarely does – but we have raised the platform far higher than we believed was possible at the start of the year.
“We have won a battle, but not the war. There is still much wrong at Transnet and Metrorail that needs to be put right.
“With our members’ help, we will continue to make progress towards that goal, step-by-step.”
Why did Utatu members get the best results from the strike?
The reasons are many. Here are a few of them:
- Utatu is Transnet’s biggest and strongest trade union.
- Utatu is Transnet’s most experienced trade union.
- Because it represents all race groups, the most job categories and the widest range of seniority levels – and has the best spread of branch committees - Utatu can call on labour’s finest brains.
- Utatu always places the interests of its members first.
“Utatu has become Transnet’s biggest union because employees are shifting their loyalty to the union that gives them the best returns from their subscription rands,” say Chris and Steve.
“The spreading of that message is going to bring Utatu more members from other unions, and from the pool of unrepresented workers who continue to be penalised financially for not belonging to a trade union.”
For More Info contact:
Chris de Vos Cell 082 882 5920
Steve Harris Cell 082 566 5516
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