SA Numsa Ngqura container terminal port strike in Eastern Cape continues "no-work, no-pay strike last week over an increase in crane operating shifts from three to five hours without a break."

SA Numsa Ngqura container terminal port strike in Eastern Cape continues "no-work, no-pay strike last week over an increase in crane operating shifts from three to five hours without a break."
Transnet vows to limit strike impact
http://www.iol.co.za/business/news/transnet-vows-to-limit-strike-impact-...

May 2 2014 at 08:14am
By Londiwe Buthelezi

Independent Newspapers
A Numsa strike at Transnets Ngqura container terminal has been marred by attacks and violent acts. Photo supplied
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Johannesburg - Transnet would ensure minimal disruption to users of its fast-growing Ngqura container terminal in the Eastern Cape, it vowed, even if the strike by some of its workers was prolonged.

Transnet employees who are members of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) embarked on a no-work, no-pay strike last week over an increase in crane operating shifts from three to five hours without a break.

They also had disputes with Transnet over the transport subsidy and their demands for permanent employment of workers engaged through labour brokers.

On Monday, Transnet locked out all striking workers. Transnet said it would not allow them to return to work until Numsa withdrew all its demands.

“We have brought in employees from other terminals around the country. The command centre is manned by executives who monitor performance on an hourly basis,” Wandisa Vazi, Transnet’s regional corporate affairs manager, said.

Ngqura handles about 1 500 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers a day and around 55 000 TEUs a month.

Vazi said so far the strike had had no impact on volumes handled at the terminal and the need had not arisen to divert any vessels to other terminals. She said the striking workers, who represented 20 percent of the Port of Ngqura’s workforce, came from all operation areas.

While Transnet earlier said 80 percent of its workers at Ngqura were not taking part in the strike, on Wednesday it said these workers were being intimidated by the striking workers.

Transnet said that on Tuesday night, three houses belonging to Ngqura employees were stoned and petrol-bombed. This took the total number of attacks and violent acts to 16 since Numsa launched its strike.

The company offered a R100 000 reward for information that might lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.

Numsa regional secretary Phumzile Nodongwe, who has repeatedly denied any Numsa members’ involvement in the reported violent acts, said the union would not back down until Transnet afforded it the same negotiating opportunity given to other unions.

Transnet said Numsa was not a recognised trade union at Ngqura.

“We have new members who have joined Numsa, but it’s from the company’s side that they don’t want to accept those applications,” Nodongwe said.

The recognised trade unions – the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) and Utatu Sarwhu – represent 90 percent of Ngqura’s employees.

Utatu Sarwhu general secretary Steve Harris said a group of employees who were not satisfied with the recognised unions’ consultations with Transnet joined Numsa.

Vincent Masoga, the national media officer for Satawu, said recognised unions had concluded their negotiations with Transnet this year, although there were a few pending issues.

Last year Ngqura was named the fastest-growing terminal by the Drewry Maritime Research Company, which studied about 120 ports globally.

Numsa port strike continues, houses repaired
http://m.engineeringnews.co.za/article/numsa-port-strike-continues-house...

BY: NATASHA ODENDAAL

As the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa- (Numsa-) led strike at Transnet’s Ngqura Container Terminal, outside Port Elizabeth, entered its eleventh day, Transnet committed to cover the costs of repairing the houses damaged in the protest.

The State-owned company reported the petrol bombing, stoning, vandalising and burning of houses and properties belonging to employees that decided not to partake in a strike besieged with “violence, thuggery and intimidation”.

A R100 000 bounty for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators had been offered by Transnet and arrests were “imminent”.

“Transnet will take the necessary disciplinary measures against any employee implicated,” the company said in a statement released on Monday.

While Numsa Eastern Cape regional secretary Phumzile Nodongwe was not immediately available for updated comment, he previously told Engineering News Online that no reports of violent or intimidating behaviour from its members had emerged.

Transnet took a hardline stance last week when it instituted a lock-out against workers who had downed tools on April 25 in protest against the company’s approach to manning levels, transport subsidies and the use of labour brokers.

Transnet said the striking employees had also effectively forfeited wages for the period of the no-work no-pay strike, as well as their yearly incentive bonus and the container incentive bonus for the period they were away from work.

Numsa did not have sufficient members to qualify for organisational rights at Transnet, as it only represented 124 of the more than 500 workers at Ngqura, well below the 30% recognition required.

Members of dominant unions, the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union and Utatu Sarwhu, which currently represented about 80% of the workers in the bargaining unit, continued working.

We didn't petrol bomb Transnet terminal: Numsa
http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2014/04/30/we-didn-t-petrol-bomb-transn...
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Image by: Gallo Images/ Thinkstock
Numsa strikers were not behind the petrol bombing of three homes at Transnet's Ngquru Container Terminal in the Eastern Cape, the trade union said.

"They [Transnet] cannot attribute any acts of violence to us," the National Union of Metalworkers of SA's regional secretary Phumzile Nodongwe said.

He was responding to a statement by Transnet's general manager for Eastern Cape terminals Siyabulela Mhlaluka that three homes of non-striking workers were stoned and petrol bombed on Tuesday night.

"This takes the total number of attacks and violent acts to 16 since Numsa launched its strike action last Friday," said Mhlaluka.

As "general lawlessness continued", Transnet's offer of a R100,000 reward for information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators still stood.

Nodongwe said Numsa members continued to strike peacefully and therefore someone else had to be responsible for the violence over the last few days.

"A lot of people take advantage of the situation."

Mhlaluka said about 80 percent of the workforce was affiliated to other unions and these workers continued with their duties.

A total of 124 employees out of 500 at the terminal belonged to Numsa. The union did not have official recognition at the parastatal.

The strike is related to disputes over transport allowances, working hours for particular tasks, and the use of labour brokers.

Nodongwe said the strikers were willing to talk to the employers at any stage.

On Tuesday, Transnet said the working hours under dispute, while recently implemented at Ngquru, were standard at other Transnet sites.

The terminal is about 20km north-east of Port Elizabeth.

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SA Transnet to repair workers' homes

May 5 2014 at 04:49pm
By SAPA
Independent Newspapers
File photo: Jacolize Goosen
Johannesburg - Transnet will repair the houses of workers damaged during a strike by Numsa at the Ngqura Container Terminal in the Eastern Cape, the parastatal said on Monday.

“We are pleased to advise our colleagues that Transnet has undertaken to repair the damaged houses of all our colleagues who chose not to heed the... call to strike at Ngqura Container Terminal,” general manager of Eastern Cape terminals Siyabulela Mhlaluka said in a statement.

“For those colleagues who have already fixed damages to their properties, Transnet will cover the cost of repairs.”

The homes of three non-striking workers were stoned and petrol-bombed on April 29, allegedly by striking National Union of Metalworkers of SA members.

The strike was related to disputes over transport allowances, working hours for particular tasks, and the use of labour brokers.

Mhlaluka said the parastatal would protect the rights of workers who chose not to join the Numsa-organised strike.

“It also signals our resolve to stand firm in the face of such intimidatory tactics and violence.”

Mhlaluka said non-striking workers had reportedly being intimidated.

Transnet would institute disciplinary measures against any employee implicated in the violence.

“To ensure that perpetrators of these violent acts are brought to justice, Transnet made available a R100 000 reward for information that may lead to the arrest and successful prosecution of the perpetrators,” he said.