Metrorail members of the United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) went on strike on 17 August, reducing 679 daily train trips in Cape Town to 30% of normal. Staff returned to work on 24 August without their demands being met.
They wanted an 8% wage increase backdated to 1 April, a further 2% in September and an 8% increase in housing subsidy and medical aid. Utatu’s main gripe is a new limitation on overtime that it says could end up costing its members – mainly train drivers and administrative staff – between R4,000 and R6,000 per month. Metrorail refused to increase the 8% adjustment in wages agreed the previous week with the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) which did not support the strike. Utatu general secretary Chris de Vos was quoted saying: “The strike notice has not been withdrawn, but the members will return to work. We will still attempt to negotiate with management. We understand their attitude that they don’t want to talk to us. We will see what the best deal is we can conclude for the best interests of everybody.”

The strike claimed a life on 18 August when a commuter fell to his death from a carriage packed beyond capacity because of the shortage of trains. Four others were injured in falls from overfull trains.

According to the Cape Times, Metrorail transports about 600,000 passengers daily. About 1,000 of Utatu’s 2,500 members at Metrorail are based in the Western Cape. The minimum monthly salary is reportedly R5,000.

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Tags | Metrorail, SATAWU, Utatu