Transnet’s strike backlog

The costs of the strike need to be properly evaluated and Transnet and the two trade unions Satawu and Utatu, need to take close looks at what happened and what measures could have taken place to avoid its occurrence reports Ports & Terminals. No doubt ordinary workers will be giving similar consideration at the month end when they evaluate how to account for rent and food requirements with less than half a month’s wages in their individual pay packets.

In a message to customers, Transnet CEO Chris Wells said he wished to thank all Transnet clients for their understanding and support during the strike. “Whilst it will not be possible to return to normality immediately, we are striving to do so as swiftly as possible and I appeal to all our customers for patience and their continuing co-operation as we do so.”

Having been forced to watch helplessly as management and labour secured for themselves hefty increases- bonuses that could be described as obscene for senior management and increases somewhere in excess of 11% – more than double the inflation rate for workers – customers will be looking for an exponential increase in productivity to match although it is feared that it won’t be quite so forthcoming as the bonuses and increases, despite the rhetoric.