Strike slows pace at ports
January 30, 2006
Johannesburg - The Durban and Richards Bay ports were running at 60 percent and 50 percent capacity respectively on Monday as unions embarked on a strike at Transnet.
"We're running at 60 percent service in the Durban container terminal. In Richards Bay it's around 50 percent, according to the preliminary report," spokesman John Dludlu said.
The company had a "very comprehensive" contingency plan which would raise capacity during the course of the day.
Workers at the two ports were attempting to march beyond agreed-upon picketing lines. In Richards Bay workers were trying to march through the terminal.
"We're talking to them about where to picket," Dludlu said.
Commuter trains in the Durban area were running at 30 percent of capacity because of the strike by Transnet's train drivers, Metrorail said.
"There are disruptions in Durban. We are providing about 53
buses, but that can never be enough, so we are asking commuters to consider other forms of transport," Metrorail spokeswoman Thandi Mlangeni said.
She said train services in other provinces were not affected.
The United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) said about 15 200 workers from all four unions involved in the dispute over restructuring were on strike at both ports.
"We're 100 percent satisfied (with the strike). There are very few trains and very little operations in the harbours," Utatu spokesman Steve Harris said.
"The workers are united, they will not capitulate at this point."
In a joint statement on Friday, the four unions said Transnet's management was moving ahead with the transfer of companies out of Transnet before negotiations had been concluded.
Transnet wanted to privatise some businesses or parts of business units such as Freightdynamics, Transnet Pension Fund Administration, Autopax and the Blue Train.
SAA, Metrorail and Shosholoza Meyl would be transferred out of Transnet, but these would remain publicly owned, the unions said.
Collective bargaining rights, pension rights, and travel concessions were among the matters that still needed to be finalised.
"Management has also been unwilling to enter into serious discussions around the proposed privatisations. These have been presented as management decisions not to be amended," the unions said.
Free State workers were to strike for one day, their colleagues in KwaZulu-Natal for three. A march was to be held in Durban on Wednesday.
Transnet employees in the Eastern Cape would strike on February 13, followed by the Northern and Western Cape two days later.
Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo Transnet workers would follow suit on February 20.
If the dispute had not been resolved by then, unions have threatened a national strike on March 6.
Transnet has about 85 000 workers.
Unions were due to meet Transnet management for talks in Johannesburg at 2.00pm. - Sapa
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