UTATU United Transport and Allied Trade Union

When Utatu members devised their constitution they guarded against the eventuality of individual members who seek to harm the union and its members in pursuit of their own agendas. Clause 7.1 of the Utatu constitution clearly states: A member may be suspended or his membership terminated if he/she acts in a manner that is prejudicial to the interests of the Union.

Even though it has from time to time to deal with hot-headed members who put too much store in their own views, Utatu has exercised this discipline sparingly.

The union’s bottom line is always a) to encourage healthy criticism and debate, and b) to protect members’ rights to free speech.
But the union cannot and will not allow any member/s to believe that they and their views are more important than Utatu and its members..

In their recent attacks on the union and its leadership, some members have outraged their fellow members by:

- Presenting a blinkered view of complex issues and their own distorted and slanderous views of Utatu’s approach to these issues
- Displayed incomplete grasp of what has been done and what can and needs to be done
- Threatened to harm Utatu if their views do not hold sway
- Ignoring the calls for a more reasonable approach
- Failing to realise that they might be  hysterical amateurs playing into management’s hands
- Either purposely or mistakenly giving the misleading impression that it is they who know the way forward and – without providing any details – that it is they who know the best way forward.
.

In so doing, they are breaking the golden rule that they made and kept our union great: - i.e. Utatu first.

If they want to be  sincere critics and debaters the doors of Utatu’s leadership remain open to them and their views.

But if they continue to  threaten Utatu, trying to sow discord and trying to weaken the union and  its strength – in the interests of the majority of members –  Clause 7.1 of our constitution will be invoked.

The choice rests with these critics and their supporters.
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UTATU Greetings.

CJ DE VOS
GENERAL SECRETARY

ABSENCE OF THE PRESIDENT MR GEORGE STRAUSS AND THE GENERAL SECRETARY MR STEVE HARRIS

Please be advised that the President and General Secretary will be out of the Country attending an ILO Workshop on Pensions as from the 19th September 2009 – 12 October 2009.

Take note that the Vice President Mr Tiekie de Jager will be acting as President as from the
20th September 2009 – 12 October 2009.
 

All Correspondence for the President and General Secretary should be directed to the Acting President Mr Tiekie de Jager and the General Secretary Mr Chris de Vos at utatu@utatu.com.

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM PHONING OR E-MAILING MR STRAUSS AND HARRIS
IN THIS PERIOD.

Utatu Greetings.

Mr EW DE KLERK
DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY
Obo CJ DE VOS

TRANSNET WAGE NEGOTIATIONS FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2009/2010

From zero to 7%, all must agree with a task well done by the negotiators.

The attached Wage Agreement was signed today. 

Please take note of the following clauses:-

1.5 Employees will receive the across the board increase on their basic pay for April, May and June as an advance payment by 30 June 2009.  Retrospective calculations on all other salary related elements will be implemented with the July 2009 payroll run.

4.1 The HOA allowances will automatically increase by the across the board increase of seven percent (7%) on the minima and maxima payable.

11.1        Transnet will not, from date of signing of this agreement to 31 March 2010 forcefully retrench.

UTATU would like to take this opportunity to thank all its members for their indulgence and patience with regard to above salary negotiations.

UTATU Greetings.
 

GENERAL SECRETARY

TO: ALL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TUR’S

       TRANSNET FREIGHT RAIL (TFR)    

REFRESHER TRAINING:  INDUSTRIAL ACTION. 

The Management of TFR have unilaterally decide to ignore an agreement which stipulates that employees in Operational grades that have to attend the Refresher Training Course will receive notice and course material three (3) months prior to physically attending the course. 

Management are now ignoring the agreement and are instructing employees to attend the course without prior notice and course material. 

Employees who have/are claiming that the agreement be honoured (3 months notice) are being suspended. 

During discussions between Management and Labour, Management  remained adamant and have refused to uplift suspensions. 

As this is a breach of an agreement we need to consider our options to restore calm and sanity, hence the attached form on which you are to indicate if we should give Management the necessary notice to enable us to go out on a Protected Strike. 

Your closest cooperation is of paramount importance. 

UTATU Greetings.

CHRIS DE VOS