Durban - Transnet workers gathered outside the parastatal’s building in Edwin Swales Drive on Monday as the nationwide strike entered its second week.
In a video on social media, dozens of workers could be seen outside the building. Some of them were holding placards.
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) confirmed that its workers had joined the strike which was started by the United National Transport Union (Untu) last week.
The strike comes due to a dispute between the unions and Transnet over salary negotiations.
Satawu’s head of communications Amanda Tshemese confirmed that the union had officially joined the strike today.
“We confirm that our members are engaged in peaceful protests as we have not received any picketing guidelines from the employer Transnet. We have members across the country including Durban where members have engaged in peaceful demonstrations.”
Tshemese added that the action was a legally protected strike.
“We have followed the due process. We were issued a certificate by the bargaining council to strike and also issued a 48 hour notice to the employer of our intention to strike. We don’t appreciate the employer calling the strike unprotected as our members’ jobs are safe. We can confirm that we are still in a meeting with Transnet, United National Transport Union (Untu) and the Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi and hope to reach a way forward.”
In a statement on Sunday, Transnet said it was meeting the unions at the Transnet Bargaining Council under the auspices of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) in a bid to resolve the current impasse in wage negotiations.
“Transnet continues to engage with organised labour to find an amicable solution to the ongoing industrial action, which has a profoundly negative impact not only on employees and the company, but on the economy as well.”