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South African road transport strike ushers in new agreement
10 March 2005
Road transport unions in South Africa have brokered a ground-breaking agreement, 11 days into an historic road freight strike.
The strike by an estimated 25,000 industry workers, which took place after wage negotiations broke down on 25 February, led to an agreement on 8 March. The deal was signed by five unions representing road freight workers - including the biggest transport union in the country, the ITF-affiliated South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) - and representatives of the Road Freight Employers’ Association. Workers returned to work on the following day.
The main points of the agreement include an increase in the minimum wage for all workers of 7.5 per cent plus an allowance of 2.5 per cent on the basic wage; an across the board increase of seven per cent for all workers currently above the minimum wage, with a three per cent allowance on the basic wage; and an increase in subsistence, night shift and cross border allowances.
A truck assistant’s minimum wage, including the allowance, now stands at just over R10 (less than US$2) an hour; a driver’s minimum wage, again including the allowance, amounts to R12.22 (just over US$2) an hour.
Four committees will also be established to look at wage differentials between sectors within the industry; geographical wage and benefit differentials; and the exclusion of some workers from wage and working conditions regulations and night shift arrangements.
“This historic strike has highlighted the shocking conditions that road freight workers work under. While Satawu is pleased with the overall agreement, there is still a long way to go before workers in the industry come anywhere close to earning a living wage,” commented Abner Ramakgolo, Satawu’s national co-ordinator for the road freight industry.
“The ITF expressed its solidarity with the union because the issue is, unfortunately, universal. We hope that this victory will encourage our members to fight for their conditions,” added Mac Urata, ITF Inland Transport Section Secretary.
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