LABOUR REPORT Pride • Unity • Trust QUARTER 3 of 2018
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Affiliated to Fedusa LABOUR REPORT www.untu.co.za pride • unity • trust QUARTER 3 OF 2018 PAGE 4 PAGE 11 PAGE 12 PAGE 16 RAILWAY SAFETY REGULATOR LABOUR ORGANISASION ASKED “VOETPLAATPARK IN KZN ENSURING COMPLIANCE IN SA TO GUIDE UNION ON DAGGA PRASA’S MODERNISATION FLOP IS UNTU’S BEST BENEFIT” Cyril Ramaphosa yet to deliver on promise to turn struggling SOE ship around State failing members, taxpayers hree quarters after the ap- tect the assets of Prasa bers at the RSR and is on the pended, the fate of Gama remains uncertain. pointment of President Cyril which belongs to millions verge of obtaining recognition. The allegations against them are related Ramaphosa, South Africans of taxpayers. The Union has been locking to a multibillion-rand procurement deal for have yet to see his promised “The Auditor- horns with the RSR after it over a thousand locomotives emanating improvements to the poor- General (AG) added granted Prasa a safety operating from a transaction in 2014. Tly governed State-Owned Enterprises to Nzimande’s plate permit for another year till Evans says Molefe was at the steer of (SOE’s) in our country. Although UNTU when he qualified Prasa’s August 2019. the Board of Prasa during the period of realises Rome was not built in a day, too late financial statements Harris says the Union the AG’s shocking financial report. little is being done too late putting the jobs for R20,3 billion in irregular was disturbed to learn “To date, nothing has come of the cor- of our 37 000 members at risk. Govern- spending and said there was that several of the RSR’s ruption and maladministration allegations ment has failed all taxpayers in the manner ‘significant doubt’ if the cor- employees across the revealed by the former Public Protector, that the SOE’s have been managed, says ruption-plagued passenger President Cyril Ramaphosa country took voluntary Adv Thuli Madonsela, in her report on Prasa, Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU. rail service will be able to severance packages Derailed, which was tabled in August 2015. “Government struggles with a strategic continue operations of its services as a (VSP) while the expenses of the regulator Nobody has been prosecuted by the perspective of SOE’s, has a poor under- going concern,” says Harris. have not yet been cut back to the bone. National Prosecution Authority (NPA) standing of its oversight role and does not At the BOC Nzimande allowed “How can Nzimande allow retrenchments about the allegations. know how to regulate them properly.” Gautrain employees to embark on a when board members of the RSR only fly “The result is that Prasa is completely Ramaphosa started off as a new broom three-week long strike without respon- business class?” Harris asks. ruined today and is struggling to provide a sweeping clean by appointing experienced ding to any of UNTU’s calls to intervene According to UNTU President Wynd- service to commuters daily,” says Evans. ministers to oversee Transnet, the Passenger while thousands of commuters where left ham Evans, a very similar scenario applies He asked Ramaphosa and Gordhan not Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), the Rail- stranded daily. to the Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin to allow Transnet to go through the same way Safety Regulator (RSR) and the Bombela Harris says Nzimande did nothing to Gordhan. Evans wrote a letter to Ramaphosa turmoil and ruin the confidence of future Operating Company (BOC), but they have comply with the Labour Relations Act asking for a speedy resolution to the allega- investors. “UNTU is all for the rooting not been able to turn the ship around. when the French management of the BOC tions against key leaders within Transnet. out of corruption on the highest levels in Dr Blade Nzimande, Minister of Trans- refused to disclose the company’s finan- Dr Popo Molefe, Chairman of the Board all spheres of Government but believes it port, can’t come up with solutions to the cial statements. “By refusing to disclose of Transnet, announced that an internal should be done in a responsible manner continued arson attacks in the Western its financial statements, the BOC made it syndicate was operating within Transnet without jeopardizing the jobs of thousands Cape and attacks of mobs of furious com- impossible for UNTU to properly engage and vowed to suspend Transnet Chief of workers. muters on trains nationwide. in collective bargaining as the Union had no Group Executive, Siyabonga Gama; Tham- “Ramaphosa informed the National “Nzimande has not been able to con- idea what profits the company made, what sanqa Jiyane, the Chief Officer of Advanced Council of Provinces that he will re-evaluate vince the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, amount is being paid to the French Con- Manufacturing of Transnet Engineering; and the structures of SOE’s to ‘bring back public that the South African Police Service cessionaire or what bonuses management Lindiwe Mdletshe, the Senior Manager of and investor confidence’. It must be done (SAPS), specifically the Rapid Railway Po- gets,” says Harris. Strategic Sourcing for Transnet Freight Rail. as soon as possible. UNTU will not allow lice Unit, has a constitutional duty to pro- UNTU recently recruited several mem- Although Jiyane and Mdletshe were sus- another SOE left in ruins,” says Evans. Recruit & win a trip to Victoria Falls! his year UNTU is offering our number of new members is a four (4) day General Secretary. top recruiter the opportunity trip to the value of R15 000 for two (2) The draw for the 1st and 2nd prize Tof a lifetime to win a trip to the persons to the Victoria Falls via UNTU’S winner will take place on 14 January 2019. magnificent Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe travel agent. You can also decide to rather In addition to these prizes, there will be by recruiting the highest number of new take a four (4) day boat trip to the value of a lucky draw with the names of three (3) members for the Union. The competition R15 000 for two (2) persons via UNTU’S winners announced every second week. runs from 3 September 2018 until 31 travel agent or take the R15 000 in cash. Each winner will win R500. December 2018 and is open to all Full- The second prize is a seven (7) day, Footage will be recorded when time Trade Union Representatives, Trade out of season holiday for four (4) persons Hendrik Fourie, Vice-President of UNTU, Union Representatives and members at Voetplaatpark, situated in Sunwich Port draws the names and all members will be of the Union. Our staff and Exco are near Port Shepstone. Transport to and able to view the video clips on UNTU’s excluded from entering. from the resort will be discussed between Facebook page. No backdated application The first prize for recruiting the largest the prize winner and the office of the forms will be accepted. COMMENT Steve Harris Exco members on the move How can Government watch while Metrorail goes up in flames? etrorail, the urban commu- Steve ter division of the Passen- Harris Wyndham Evans, UNTU President (middle), visited UNTU members working for Trans- ger Rail Agency of South net Freight Rail (TFR) at the Golela border post in KwaZulu-Natal between South Africa Africa (Prasa), is going up in and Swaziland, with UNTU Full-time Trade Union Representative Wally Hattingh, and flames while Government UNTU’s Media, Liaison and Communication Officer, Sonja Carstens. Mis watching as a silent spectator. In recent months Metrorail suffered unprecedented attacks nationwide by commuters, criminals and a sinister force on its rail infrastructure funded by South African taxpayers. Metrorail, the cheapest form of transport for the poorest of the poor, might soon cease to exist. By the time this edition of Labour Report went to print, the Western Cape only had 36 train sets left. The rest of the trains went up in flames in recent months as a sinister mob followed the same modus operandi to Hendrik Fourie, UNTU Vice-President, visited UNTU members in Hotazel in the torch coaches with a highly flammable But while train coaches are burning, Northern Cape. He was accompanied by UNTU acting Exco member, Tikum Hardhaw, substance while it was entering or Prasa and the Rapid Rail Police Unit of UNTU Full-time Trade Union Representative Sharon Goosen, and UNTU’s Media, Liaison stationary in train stations. the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Communication Officer, Sonja Carstens. Dr Blade Nzimande, Minister of continues to play the blame game as to Transport, promised Parliament in his who is responsible for ensuring safe trains. budget speech in May that Metrorail will The SAPS has admitted that they are operate 88 fully configured train sets, but unable to adequately police trains. Excuses admitted that the Cape Town corridor presented to Parliament’s Standing requires approximately 110 train sets. Committee on Community Safety were According to the Minister it is his that the trains were too overcrowded for department’s priority to “provide safe rail officers to man it on the inside; CCTV travel, especially for the working class”. cameras at stations have been out of Sadly, the result of this promise is an order since 2015; and squatters living almost complete collapse of the services along railway lines. of Prasa nationwide. However, none of these excuses are In September Metrorail train services new, yet Government continues to remain UNTU’s team of organisers nationwide held their quarterly UNTU Organiser Workshop in KwaZulu-Natal were suspended for a mum and to tolerate the distruction of at the Transnet Engineering Koedoespoort Depot.