No end to a national strike against Transnet was in sight on Tuesday as a second union joined the industrial action.

This pushed the percentage of Transnet workers set to down tools on Wednesday to about 84 percent.
The United Transport and Allied Trade Union announced on Tuesday its members would also join the nationwide strike.

“On receiving a revised salary offer from the Transnet management, we as the leadership decided to be responsible and accountable to our members and take the offer to them first for consideration,” Utatu secretary Chris de Vos told Sapa.

“The membership rejected the new offer of 11 percent on pensionable salary. As from tomorrow (Wednesday) 6am our members would be in the streets picketing. We have decided to officially join the strike.”

Transnet workers were expected to march in various cities on Wednesday. “This is going to be a massive strike tomorrow [Wednesday] since Utatu has also joined in,” said SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) policy research officer Jane Barrett.

Satawu members went on strike on Monday after they rejected Transnet’s offer of an 11 percent wage increase.

It had initially offered eight percent. The unions want 15 percent.

Transnet management told unions on Tuesday afternoon that its offer remained at 11 percent because the parastatal had no money.

According to de Vos: “During a very short meeting with Transnet management this afternoon, they responded that they have no more money and we requested that they must call us when they can improve the offer.”

Source: Sapa online