Ex-QDMS

A Kruger Park game ranger.

Two unions with representation at the Kruger National Park (KNP) have denied being behind a strike by over 300 employees, planned for Friday.

“As far as we are concerned, our members have not indicated themselves that there is any strike,” said Ivan Molefe, SA Commercial Catering and Allied Workers' Union negotiator on Thursday.

“They are doing it on an individual basis,” he said.

The Health and Other Service Personnel Trade Union of SA (Hospersa) said no current members were involved.

Some former members who had recently resigned were among those planning to strike over pay at the park on Friday, it said.

“They are striking for legitimate issues, but they did that as individuals. They did not consult with us,” said Hospersa spokesman Dumisani Mthalana..

“They are fighting something we are also fighting,” he said.

Earlier, KNP spokesman William Mabasa said a notice giving 361 people permission to strike from Friday was issued by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.

Of these, 248 were rangers, sparking concern over the protection of the animals from poachers, particularly rhino.

The park employs about 400 rangers out of around 2 500 staff.

“It is indeed unfortunate that our rangers have decided to go on strike at the time when we are at the peak of our war against rhino poachers,” Mabasa said in a statement earlier this week.

“These are the men and women that we rely on in our fight against the poachers, but nevertheless management would like to assure our guests and the public in general that all contingency measures are in place to adequately deal with the situation.”

Mabasa said workers believed some employees got more money than others for doing the same job.

In previous discussions, management explained that salary differences could be due to factors such as experience, or a longer term of employment.

KNP had put contingency plans in place, which included using the SA National Defence Force, the police, and volunteer rangers.

Mabasa said visitors could continue with their plans to visit the park.

Mthalane and Molefe said both unions had seen resignations among members at the park in what Mthalana called “union hopping”.

Saccawu had lost its majority at the park when members left to join Hospersa. Another union was apparently campaigning in the park for members, who had in turn resigned from Hospersa , they explained.

“It is their right to belong or not to belong, but it is a trend in SA National Parks: they are just hopping from one union to another,” he said.

Saccawu and Hospersa had not been asked to join the strike.

Comment from the people intending to strike was not immediately available. - Sapa