COSATU TO TAKE STRIKE ACTION AGAINST METRORAIL

Following the breakdown in negotiations between COSATU Western Cape and Metrorail, strike action is imminent!

The strike is designed to pressure Metrorail to improve services and not increase their fares until the improvements are done. Metrorail has indicated that steps they are taking will see an improvement by end-July 2014, as a result of measures they aim to implement during the month of July.

COSATU has called on Metrorail to delay these fare increases until these new measures are implemented. For COSATU, an improved Metrorail service will reduce the necessity for workers to use additional funds when trains are cancelled and/or delayed; and worse, workers are short-paid due to late-coming.

The amount Metrorail will gain from fare increases is R3 Million for the month of July only; a small amount for Metrorail but huge for ordinary workers.

Metrorail has spent money on non-core facilities like Wi-Fi and huge salary increases for management.

COSATU has referred the date for the proposed action to Nedlac in terms of Section 77 of the Labour Relations Act (LRA), for authorisation which will ensure this is a protected strike and covers members and non-members of the federation.

COSATU again urges Metrorail not to increase the fares during the month of July as the cost to the economy will add to huge amounts of money, but, it's the only means workers have to stop Metrorail.

COSATU has referred this matter to CEO Lucky Montana and the new Minister of Transport to assist to resolve the matter in a manner that takes into account worker's needs.

COSATU is aware that billions of Rand was used to spend on increasing facilities on airplanes, and public transport for workers should also be treated with the same regard as was done for the wealthy.  

Statement issued by COSATU Western Cape provincial Secretary, Tony Ehrenreich, June 18 2014

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter