Half of the Robben Island tours have been resumed after all trips were cancelled when police were called in to remove strikers preventing tourists from boarding a ferry.
The Robben Island Museum cancelled trips after the strike by National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) workers turned ugly on Saturday.
Robben Island Museum chief executive Sibongiseni Mkhize said the strikers invaded the embarkation area at the Nelson Mandela Gateway and got on to the ferry.
Police were called after the protesters became “violent” and “unruly”, he said.
Because of the shortage of staff since the start of the strike on October 26, the museum has offered only two of its four daily trips from the Waterfront. The reduced service was in place on Sunday.
Mkhize said negotiations had begun on Friday, but Saturday’s incident might have jeopardised the possibility of an early settlement.
“The incident has set the negotiations back,” Mkhize said.
“We have spoken to our lawyers and they will be dealing with the union. What happened on Saturday was against the rules and (workers) know that.
“We will investigate and take speedy action (including legal action) against those who were involved. We would also like to assure our visitors and all concerned South Africans that we are taking the necessary steps to return operations to normal.”
About 100 of the 220 island staff went on strike after talks between the union and management reached a deadlock.
The staff, who run the island’s ferries, work in its shops and sell tour tickets, are demanding wage increases and a shutdown in operations from December 25 to January 2.
Nehawu’s branch secretary at the museum, Sinako Mrwetyana, said the union had reduced the increase it was demanding from R2 500 to R2 000.
“The management ... are ... sticking to the 6 percent.”