Pretoria – South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (SATAWU) distance itself from a widely distributed WhatsApp message calling for a strike in the security and cleaning sectors on 29 March.
While it is true that SATAWU is currently engaged in wage negotiations in the security the sector, it is not true that we have called for a strike. Wage negotiations are continuing and we are pleased to report that employers, who at the beginning of the process appeared unwilling to engage, have now softened their stance and are making valuable contributions to the talks.
Currently, parties to the negotiations are assessing how the national minimum wage, which is set to be implemented on 1 May, is going to impact the industry and this year’s wage negotiations.
It is also important to note that the organisation calling for the strike, the African Security Congress is not involved in the negotiations. It, therefore, follows that their call for a strike is not legitimate. Only the parties involved in negotiations can declare a dispute and thereafter when a certificate is granted, lead workers in the industrial action.
A security official from Mafoko Security that wanted to stay anonymous reported that workers of Mafoko Security, Shield and Shongweni group are the mastermind behind the WhatsApp uprising messages and needed their employers to take them seriously. He further explained that the issues of pay and ignoring industry regulation is at the heart of the call for the strike.
SATAWU advises its members to ignore the calls for a strike on 29 March as it is unprotected and they risk being dismissed if they down tools. The next round of wage talks is set to take place on 22 and 23 March.
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