Operations at the Transnet offices in Richards Bay are expected to come to a standstill on Friday as the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) embarks on a protest march.
At the crux of Numsa members’ grievances are allegations of a sex-for-jobs scheme‚ corruption‚ health and safety violations and labour brokers.
Numsa members caused chaos in early May when angry port workers used front-end loaders to flip over police vehicles and tear up roadside barriers at the Richards Bay Harbour.
Police fired shots at the earth-moving machines in an attempt to keep them at bay‚ without success.
However‚ Numsa Richards Bay local secretary Charles Mohlala said their members would behave this time around. Employers have locked in plant machines.
Speaking to TimesLIVE on Friday‚ Mohlala said contractors at Transnet in Richards Bay were fed up with being treated like animals.
“Some Transnet managers are guilty of violating female workers by demanding sex in exchange for jobs. Numsa is calling for an independent enquiry into how Transnet awards tenders. There is no transparency in the tendering process which means that nepotism and cronyism are rife‚” alleged Mohlala.
He said they were also calling for equal pay for equal work.
He said contractors and permanent staff performed the same work for the same amount of hours‚ but that permanent staff earned more than the contractors.
Mohlala said permanent staff got transportation and meal subsidies and other basic benefits‚ but contractors did not.
“We are also calling for a ban of labour brokers. Some contractors have been on contract with Transnet for as long as 20 years without being made permanent‚” he said.
Another Numsa gripe relates to health and safety.
He said contractors at Transnet did not have access to dust masks or respirators‚ whilst permanent staff did.
“The environment is full of dust. Without respirators‚ workers are vulnerable to illnesses‚” he said.
-TimesLIVE
Source: Tiso Black Star Group Digital.
Transnet lock away front-end loaders ahead of union protest
At the crux of Numsa members’ grievances are allegations of a sex-for-jobs scheme‚ corruption‚ health and safety violations and labour brokers.
Numsa members caused chaos in early May when angry port workers used front-end loaders to flip over police vehicles and tear up roadside barriers at the Richards Bay Harbour.
Police fired shots at the earth-moving machines in an attempt to keep them at bay‚ without success.
However‚ Numsa Richards Bay local secretary Charles Mohlala said their members would behave this time around. Employers have locked in plant machines.
Speaking to TimesLIVE on Friday‚ Mohlala said contractors at Transnet in Richards Bay were fed up with being treated like animals.
“Some Transnet managers are guilty of violating female workers by demanding sex in exchange for jobs. Numsa is calling for an independent enquiry into how Transnet awards tenders. There is no transparency in the tendering process which means that nepotism and cronyism are rife‚” alleged Mohlala.
He said they were also calling for equal pay for equal work.
He said contractors and permanent staff performed the same work for the same amount of hours‚ but that permanent staff earned more than the contractors.
Mohlala said permanent staff got transportation and meal subsidies and other basic benefits‚ but contractors did not.
“We are also calling for a ban of labour brokers. Some contractors have been on contract with Transnet for as long as 20 years without being made permanent‚” he said.
Another Numsa gripe relates to health and safety.
He said contractors at Transnet did not have access to dust masks or respirators‚ whilst permanent staff did.
“The environment is full of dust. Without respirators‚ workers are vulnerable to illnesses‚” he said.
-TimesLIVE
Source: Tiso Black Star Group Digital.
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