Johannesburg - The United National Transport Union (Untu) and Gautrain operator Bombela failed to reach an agreement at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) following threats of union members going on strike due to wage disagreements, the union said on Thursday.
According to a collective agreement between Untu and Bombela, the union needed a certificate before giving their employers 48 hour written notice of its intention to go on a strike after obtaining a mandate from its members.
Untu general secretary Steve Harris said the union met with Bombela at the CCMA on Wednesday in the hopes that a ruling would be made, however the arbitrators who was assisting with the case were not present.
“The commission tried to get the parties to settle and only heard closing arguments but unfortunately no agreement was met and a verdict will only be heard in 14 days,” Harris said.
Bombela started salary negotiations with an offer to pay a three percent salary increase when Untu demanded 15 percent, and the gap narrowed down to a nine percent verses a 7.6 percent divide when negotiations deadlocked.
Untu felt that Bombela was not prepared to negotiate in good faith, which left them with no option but to ask their members to consider a strike even though it would have a more devastating effect on the already slow growing economy.
The two parties will be back at the CCMA in 14 days, with the hopes that a ruling will be made.
African News Agency