Cape Town - Thousands of Cosatu-affiliated workers are expected to descend on Cape Town on Wednesday to protest against Metrorail’s service.
The trade union federation threatened strike action against Metrorail this month in response to train delays, a lack of security and fare increases.
The action comes after Cosatu filed an application with the National Economic and Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) last year under section 77 of the Labour Act against the Public Rail Association of South Africa (Prasa), the City of Cape Town, the provincial government and the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry over the state of the passenger rail operator’s service delivery and the roll-out of MyCiTi services.
Cosatu’s Western Cape regional secretary Tony Ehrenreich said it received a less than satisfactory response from Nedlac, but said the trade union federation was granted permission to go on a protected strike.
“This is an unjust matter. The main reason for the protest is against policy. We are confident all participants will be safe in the strike. This will not be a total shutdown.”
Cosatu’s vice-chairman Andile Ngqaneka read out a list of demands at a media briefing on Monday, which called on Metrorail to refund commuters for docked pay and other expenses as a result of train delays.
“When Metrorail enters into a contract with them to deliver a service, should they fail to deliver the service, they must refund the ticket price.
“Metrorail must also refund the loss of earnings workers incur as a result of coming late to work and losing pay.”
Among Cosatu’s demands was a call for more trains and for the provincial government to improve public transport in rural communities.
“Bosses must stop disciplining workers because of late arrival at work due to Metrorail delays. Also there must be no ticket price increase until the system is fixed and improved,” said Ngqaneka.
Metrorail spokeswoman Riana Scott said during the Nedlac meeting it was acknowledged that Metrorail’s service recovery plan was in progress.
The plan includes refurbishing current stock and upgrading it “to optimal condition” to sustain services until Prasa’s modernisation programme delivers “critical mass to meet demand”, she said.
“As the infrastructure is repaired we are able to improve punctuality and as we receive refurbished train-sets from the contractors we can add capacity to meet demand.
“If Metrorail had not been deliberately targeted with a series of attacks earlier this year, the region would now have been performing to much higher standards.
“The loss of key infrastructure was significant and we warned that recovery would be progressive.”
This year at least 17 trains were damaged through arson and vandalism, amounting to about R70 million in infrastructureloss.
Scott said the Western Cape was not the only province affected.
She said other regions suffered similar incidents of vandalism and no spare capacity existed to re-direct to the province.
“Despite the setback, trains continue to operate daily, complying with Metrorail’s Conditions of Carriage.
“Prasa’s multi-billion rand modernisation roll-out is already evident in the Western Cape, with several projects completed and many more in progress, including the upgrade of stations, signalling and construction of the new nerve centre.”
Cape Argus