Francesca Villette
TRADE union federation Cosatu has launched an application to strike with the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) if urgent intervention in the transport sector is not implemented within one month.
In Cape Town yesterday, the Cosatu leadership briefed the media on its application, submitted on Tuesday, relating to what it calls the “dismal state of the rail service in Cape Town”.
Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich said it was taking to task the City, the management of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, the provincial government, the national government and businesses in Cape Town.
During the next month representatives from the various bodies will meet and discuss solutions to issues of train safety.
If solutions cannot be reached, the union and its 220 000 members would strike, Ehrenreich said.
“The needs of workers need to be considered. Too often thousand of workers are late for work because of the trains being late.”
Being late meant many people lost portions of their wages, which they would not afford, he said.
Nedlac spokesperson Kim Jurgensen said the council had received the notice.
“It will be processed through the Nedlac section 77 standing committee. The applicant will be contacted in due course.”