Pretoria – The Bombela Operating Company (BOC) has assured Gautrain passengers that the high-speed express train services will not be disrupted by the publicised strike by its employees,
BOC was responding to notifications by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) that its members would embark on a strike today, (Monday, 8 July 2024).
“BOC wishes to assure Gautrain passengers that Gautrain services will not be disrupted by the planned strike by its employees affiliated with the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA).
“The BOC has implemented contingency plans to ensure that Gautrain customers are not adversely affected by the planned strike.”
The BOC is a subsidiary of RATP and was appointed by the Bombela Concession Company to operate and maintain the Gautrain system.
NUMSA members announced their plans to embark on a protected strike due to an impasse regarding wage negotiations.
On Friday, NUMSA warned commuters that services may be interrupted due to the Gautrain strike.
NUMSA said it served a 48-hour notice to strike with the management of BOC.
“Wage talks began on the 17th of April and we have had two rounds of talks. Our last meeting was on the 11th of June which is when we deadlocked with the employer,” NUMSA explained.
“We are the majority union with sole negotiating power at Gautrain.
“The bosses refuse to meet our demands and this has led to workers resorting to strike action.”
NUMSA said its core demands are:
1. 13% increase across the board.
2. We demand a medical aid contribution of 60% by the BOC and employees will contribute 40%.
3. Housing allowance of R2000 per employee per month.
4. The BOC was initially a 5-day operation and then it changed to a 6-day operation without compensating workers for the extra work. Workers have not been remunerated for these additional hours and we are demanding that they must be compensated for this. And going forward, they must be paid the overtime rate for the 6th day.
5. The BOC does not treat workers equally. The bosses at BOC rewarded themselves and office workers with R22 000 each as a bonus, but blue-collar workers are denied a guaranteed bonus. They have an incentive bonus which requires that the applicant must first qualify in order to be paid. This is unfair and we demand equal treatment for all workers
6. BOC has become hostile to the union and this led to management unilaterally withdrawing the recognition agreement that we had with the company. We demand full-time shopstewards so that they can represent workers in disciplinary enquiries, grievances etc.
“The strike will begin at 6 AM on Monday the 8th of July,” NUMSA said.
“We are warning commuters that the services may be interrupted as a result of the strike.
“We apologise for the inconvenience, however, we have been forced into taking this drastic course of action.
“It is an indefinite strike until the demands are met.”
